Home Care Fairer Charging
Fairer Charging is a scheme introduced by the Government to ensure that amounts charged for home care should
- be broadly the same across the country;
- reflect people's income, including disability benefits; and
- allow for disability related expenditure.
What does it mean
Your circumstances will be fairly assessed to identify how much you can afford to pay. For many people, this will be less than the full charge.
If you can afford the full cost of your home care services (excluding administration and care management costs), then you should expect to pay this. You will pay the full cost if you have more than £22,250 in savings, but you should tell us if they fall below this figure.
How is a charge assessed
- If you receive Income Support or Pension Credit Guarantee but do not get a disability benefit, you will not be charged, provided your savings are not more than £22,250.
- All income, including disability benefits other than the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, is considered in the assessment.
- Income includes a sliding scale of contributions from any savings you have, if these are between £13,500 and £22,250. Savings below £13,500 are ignored.
- For basic expenditure, we allow the base rate of Income Support (or Pension Credit if you are aged 60 or over) plus 25%. This figure will be £155.06per week for a single person or £236.69 for a couple aged 60 or over from 07/04/08 .
- Any additional expenditure arising from disability is also allowed.
- The charge is income less expenditure, as calculated above.
Our duty
We should ensure that people receive all benefits that they are entitled to.
How we will implement fairer charging
Everyone receiving Home Care will have a financial assessment carried out in their own home by specialist financial assessors.
They will:
- agree levels of income and expenditure and
- provide welfare benefits advice.
The following charges apply from 7 April 2008:
Home Care
Subject to Fairer Charging
- Generic rate: £18.54 per hour
- Mobile Nights: £10.90 per hour
- Maximum weekly charge is £313 (including Home Care, Day Services and Transport)
Most people will not have to pay the full charge.
What if my care changes during the week?
If only a small amount of care is missed this is unlikely to change the weekly charge.
For example, if a relative is visiting and Home Care is cancelled for the day, then this will not usually affect the charge. This is because the care received on other days in the week will still cost, at the full rate, more than the Fairer Charge.
Direct Payments:
for employing your own care
- Hourly rate: £11.00
- Agency rate: £13.15
- Insurance premium at cost
for making your own arrangements to meet your assessed need instead of Borough of Poole Day Centre attendance and transport
- £20 per session
Day Services
From 7 July 2008 day centre attendance, subject to Fairer Charging, is charged at £6 per day (£3 per session).
Transport
From 7 July 2008 transport, subject to Fairer Charging, is charged at £6 per day (£3 single journey).
Invoices for day services and transport will be sent out every 4 weeks.
Meals
Flat rate charge: £3.10 - payment for this should be made direct to the day centre.
Supporting People
People entering supported accommodation but not eligible for housing benefit can request a Fairer Charging assessment to assess if they are eligible for Supporting People subsidy.
For more information about the fairer charging scheme contact your Care Manager or the Social Services Helpdesk 
.
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