Council and democracy

Supporting People charging policy

1. Service Users in receipt or eligible for Housing Benefit

Where a service user is in receipt, or assessed as being eligible for Housing Benefit, then an ACS8 SP form needs to be completed, (the ‘short’ form) and returned to the Income
Section. We require confirmation of Housing Benefit to be sent in with the ACS8 (SP). Providers will not receive any payment for the service user until receipt of HB is confirmed to the Income Section.

2. Service Users not eligible for Housing Benefit

Service users who are not eligible for Housing benefit can apply to the Adult Care Services department for a financial assessment. This relates to service users who may have an income above HB thresholds, or where their capital is between present limits of £16,000 and £22,250 (2008/09). Service users with capital above the Adult Care Services limit are expected to pay the full cost of their Supporting People services.

The financial assessment of ability to pay is the same as for non-residential services provided by Adult Care Services. It involves comparing the service user’s income with a threshold of basic Income Support/Pension Credit amounts plus 25%, in accordance with Department of Health Fairer Charging guidance. The following will be taken into account when assessing a service users income:

• Where Service users have capital between £13,000 and £22,250 (2008/09) an assumed income will be derived from the capital sum.
• Both, disability related income and expenditure will now be included in any financial assessment undertaken. Housing costs are deducted from the service user’s available income for charges. Housing costs do not include gas, electric, water
  charges (unless higher than average due to disability), or house and contents insurance.

The charge is the lower of the following:

• 75% of the service user’s income above their threshold
• the full cost of all the support service received.

3. Couples

The definition of a couple is the same as for Adult Care Services’ charging policy, i.e. “a married couple or two people who live together as if married”. It includes civil partners,
and co-habiting partners.

Supporting People services are normally delivered to the household rather than to individuals. The charge assessment is therefore based on the joint capital, income, and expenditure of the couple.

4. Service users who receive Supporting People and Adult Care Services (for example domiciliary care services)

Service users who receive chargeable services from Adult Care Services (e.g. home care) as well as Supporting People services will be assessed to pay a total charge for all services. This will be apportioned between the different services ( e.g home care and housing related support). The support provider and the service user will be notified how much is to be paid by the service user for the support service.