This is an extremely important part of the care planning process. It should be noted that in the large majority of cases, benefits to you, or your family carer will not be affected.

After you receive an assessment from social services, they will carry out a financial assessment. This is to see if you qualify for part funding, full funding or no funding for your care. The financial assessments department will look at how much savings you have, any investments you may have, how much income you have, and what your outgoings are. It is also extremely important that you do your research. Look at a number of care organisations in your area. Please see our section on choosing the right care provider.

There are a few options available to meet the cost of your care.  These are:

  • Direct Payments

Direct Payments are a different, more flexible, way of delivering social care services. With Direct Payments:

You choose who provides your care, and

You control when you receive your care

Social Services provide a payment directly to you, providing you are eligible to receive services, so that you can arrange and purchase your own support.

The key principle is that day-to-day control of the money and provision of your care is given to you, the service user. As you know your own needs best, you can decide how to spend the money you receive to arrange for care provision that best suits your lifestyle.

You might use the money to:

  • employ someone directly to help with your care (a Personal Assistant)
  • buy care from a private registered care agency
  • make your own arrangements instead of using Social Services day care or respite care.

Whatever arrangements you make, you must ensure that any outcomes identified in your Care Plan (see below) are met.

Direct Payments are just one option for care; if you prefer to receive services in the traditional way, you can. Some people even choose a mix of Direct Payments and services.

  • Social Services Contracts

Should you qualify to recieve care, social services may provide the care for you. They can do this directly by providing local authourity employed support workers, or may contract with a private agency who will be able to help you. Again, in these cases you may have to pay part, all or nothing towards the cost of your care following a financial assessment.

  • Independent Living Fund

The ILF was set up as a national resource to enable disabled people to live independent lives in their community rather than in residential care. You can use payments from the ILF to pay a care agency or employ someone to give you personal and domestic care, or both.

If you receive funding from the ILF, then you will need to fulfill the following conditions:

  • live in the UK
  • be over 16 and under 65 when your application was received
  • get social services support worth at least £340 a week or £17,680 a year - this can include direct payments or services from your local council, like going to a day centre
  • get or be entitled to the highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance
  • have less than £23,000 in savings or capital - this includes any money your partner has, if you have a partner

For more information about the Independent Living Fund, follow the link below:

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/ilf/