Contributing to the cost of your care (financial assessment)

It is important to note that you may have to contribute towards your care and support needs. You will need to complete a Financial Assessment so we can calculate how much you may have to pay.

This assessment helps us to understand your financial situation and ensures that you are not asked to pay more than you can afford.

To see the cost to you of a care package complete a financial assessment. The following link will take you to the cost of care calculator.

Start my financial assessment

Our team is here to assist you throughout this process, ensuring that you receive the care services you require while considering your financial circumstances.

What will I need to pay?

Depending on the amount of income, savings or assets you have, you may have to contribute towards some, or all, of the cost of your care and support.

Darlington Adult Social Care, along with all other local authorities, must follow Government guidance when making decisions about how to operate their charging policy for home care (or non-residential) services, for example day care, personal care.

If you are assessed as needing support and want to apply to Adult Social Care for help towards the cost, then a financial assessment will need to be completed in accordance with Darlington’s charging policy.

If you have capital or savings above the Upper Capital Limit (£23,250)

You will be required to pay the full costs of your care and support.

If your care and support costs are less than your assessed maximum weekly contribution You will be required to pay for the actual costs of your care. You will pay the actual cost of your care or your assessed maximum weekly contribution, whichever is lower. Should your care increase in the future, your contribution will increase up to your maximum contribution.

You will not be asked to pay any more your assessed maximum weekly contribution.

What if I do not want to disclose my financial details?

If you do not wish to complete the Financial Assessment, you will have to pay the full cost of your care.

Paying your own Care Costs (Self-funding)

If your assessment finds you are required to pay the full costs of your care or you are self-funding, we can still support you in finding and arranging care.

Care home and a property

If you are moving into a care home permanently, and you own a property, the capital in that property may be taken into account during your financial assessment.

There are occasions when your property is not taken into account in your financial assessment, these are outlined in the Property Disregards information sheet.

Your Financial Assessment Officer will ask you to provide details about the property and explain the possible funding arrangements, including the Deferred Payment Agreement (DPA).

However, you should always seek independent legal or financial advice before making a decision on how to use your capital assets.

When you won't need a financial assessment?

If you receive a care service under Section 117 [external link] of the Mental Health Act 1983 a financial assessment is not needed, and you will not have to pay towards your care.

However, if only a part of your care and support is funded under Section 117, you will require a financial assessment and may have to pay towards any care and support that is not funded under Section 117.

If your care and support service is fully paid for by the NHS under Continuing Healthcare, you will not require a financial assessment.

If your care and support is jointly funded with us and the NHS you will still require a financial assessment, this will be towards the element of your care and support that we pay for.

How is a Financial Assessment completed?

If you are assessed as having an eligible care or support needs by Darlington Adult Services, you will then need to have a financial assessment. This is to calculate if you will be required to contribute towards the costs of your care.

Step 1

A care package is agreed, based on what is needed to support you to keep your independence for as long as possible.

Step 2

You can complete the online financial assessment to find an indicative amount you are able to contribute towards your care.

There are two versions of the online financial assessment, one is for non-residential care, which is care provided in your own home and in the community, i.e. home care, direct payment, and one is for residential care which is for when you are moving into a care home.

Start my financial assessment

The online financial assessment will not ask for any of your personal information such as your name and address.

The information entered is not stored online.

All you need to do is enter details of your:

details of state benefits and private income
details of savings, investments and capital
details of land and property you may own.
Details of household expenditure, i.e. rent, council tax.

This will estimate the amount that you might have to pay each week towards the care you receive. This is only an indicative amount, and you will still require a financial assessment to be completed.

For further information the charging policies can be found at;

Residential [pdf document]
Non-Residential [pdf document]

Step 3

Your Financial Assessment is then completed by a member of the Financial Assessment Team.

They will write to you or send an email to advise you of the result of the Financial Assessment, telling you the amount you will need to contribute.

Step 4

The easiest and safest way to pay for your care is by monthly Direct Debit. You can set up a Direct Debit online or over the phone. Paying by Direct Debit will ensure you do not miss a payment which will mean you will owe the Council money.

Direct Debit Instruction

What if I don’t agree with the Financial Assessment?

If you feel that your assessment is incorrect, you should first contact the financial assessment officer who has completed the assessment to ensure that all the details relating to your assessment are correct.

If you still think your assessment is incorrect this can be escalated to the financial assessment team leader, then if following this the individual sill remains dissatisfied regarding the outcome of their appeal, then the Director of Services for People or a nominated officer will hear appeals against decisions made by the Financial Assessment Section.

At any time during this process the individual or their representative can make a complaint under the Council’s Complaints Procedure. Details regarding the Council’s complaints procedure.

More information is available from:

Complaints and Information Governance Team
Darlington Town Hall
Darlington
DL1 5QT
Tel: 01325 406777
www.darlington.gov.uk/complaints
E-mail: [email protected]

The Financial Assessment Team

Operations Groups

Finance Division
Town Hall
Feethams,
Darlington
DL1 5QT
Email: [email protected]

If you need to find out more about your care and support needs, get in touch via our Adult Front Door so we can signpost you to relevant services and support.