FAIRER CHARGING CONSULTATION 28 th May – 26 th August 2012 LINSEY VINCENT – Project Manager EDD TILLEN – Consultation Support Officer.

FAIRER CHARGING CONSULTATION28th May – 26th August 2012

LINSEY VINCENT – Project ManagerEDD TILLEN – Consultation Support Officer

INTRODUCTION

Fairer Charging Policy

• Sets out how much people are charged

for social care services

• Ensures people are charged in a fair and consistent way

• A Financial Assessment ensures that no one has to pay

more than they can afford

INTRODUCTION

Proposed Changes

1.Changing how much we subsidise payment for all non-

residential services

2.Changing how we charge for Housing Related Support

3.Ensuring we charge in the right way for Extra Care Housing

4.Working out how we should charge for Assistive Technology

BACKGROUND

The Story So Far…

• 2002 – Fairer Charging Policy approved

• 2009 – Fairer Charging Policy reviewed (including Personal

Budgets) and approved

• Feb 2012 – Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) approved

• Mar 2012 – Approval to consult on a review of Fairer Charging

Policy

• May 2012 – Consultation begins

IDEA 1: REMOVING SUBSIDIES

What Happens Now

• Non-Residential Services (i.e. Day Care, Home

Care, Personal Budgets, Carers’ Services)

• The Council pays towards the cost of some services

• 17% subsidy for Personal Budgets

• Unlimited subsidy for Day Services (people pay a flat rate of

£20 per day)

• No Subsidy for Home Care Services

• Subsidy is taken off before Financial Assessment is completed

IDEA 1: REMOVING SUBSIDIES

The Idea

• Make all subsidies the same

• Budget won’t allow us to increase subsidies, therefore…

• We want to stop paying all subsidies

• People who can afford it may have to pay the full (100%) cost

of their services

MARY’S EXAMPLE

Service CostWeekly

CostSubsidy

Final Charge

4 hours Home Care

£13

per hour

£52

per week0% (£0)

£52

per week

3 sessions Day Care

£40

per session

£120

per week50% (£60)

£60

per week

Total Cost:

£172 per week

Total Charge:

£112 per week

Assessed Charge: £50 per week

Mary Receives…

Service CostWeekly

CostSubsidy

Final Charge

4 hours Home Care

£13

per hour

£52

per week0% (£0)

£52

per week

3 sessions Day Care

£40

per session

£120

per week0% (£0)

£120

per week

Total Cost:

£172 per week

Total Charge:

£172 per week

Assessed Charge: £50 per week

New Charges

JOHN’S EXAMPLE

ServicePersonal Budget

CostSubsidy

Final Charge

Personal Budget

£172 per week

17% (£29)£143

per week

Assessed Charge: £143 per week

John Receives…

ServicePersonal Budget

CostSubsidy

Final Charge

Personal Budget

£172 per week

0% (£0)£172

per week

Assessed Charge: £172 per week

New Charges

+£29 per week

IDEA 2: HOUSING RELATED SUPPORT

What Happens Now

• Supporting People Services – Practical

support to help people live independently

• Recipients do not have to be eligible for Social Care Services

• Simple Financial Assessment

• Housing Benefit = No charge, no other income is taken into

account

• No Housing Benefit = Possible charge, based on all income

IDEA 1: HOUSING RELATED SUPPORT

The Idea

• Keep Simple Financial Assessment – Simpler process for a

simpler service

• Take all income into account, including Housing Benefit

EXAMPLE

Income Amount

Housing Benefit £80 per week

Employment and Support Allowance

£178 per week

Disability Living Allowance

£77 per week

Total Income: £335 per week

Mary John

Income Amount

Private Income £225 per week

Total Income: £225 per week

-£110 per week

IDEA 3: EXTRA CARE HOUSING

What Happens Now

• An alternative to Residential Care

• Specially adapted housing with access

to 24 hour support, usually included

with the cost of the accommodation

• If additional support is required (like Home Care or Day Care),

any charge is worked out using the Fairer Charging Policy

• This method has not been formally consulted on yet

IDEA 3: EXTRA CARE HOUSING

The Idea

• Continue using to use the Fairer Charging Policy to work out

charges

• Continue to charge people in Extra Care Housing in the same

way that we charge anyone who lives in their own home

EXAMPLE

There is no change to how we currently charge.

This is about confirming that how we charge is the fairest way.

IDEA 4: ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

What Happens Now

• Equipment that can help keep people safe

and secure in their own homes

• Often installed by HART (Maximum of 6

Weeks) – No Charge

• People often want to keep the equipment after the HART

service

• No charging policy yet

IDEA 4: ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

The Idea

• If person is eligible for social care services, then charge based on the

Fairer Charging Policy as part of a bigger package of care

• If they are not eligible for care, then…

• One off charge for installing the equipment; and/or

• One off charge for removing the equipment; and/or

• Weekly charge for monitoring and maintaining the equipment; and/or

• Weekly charge for having someone available to respond to an alarm

EXAMPLE

Technology Installation Monitoring Responder Removal

Lifeline Alarm + 3 Sensors

£40 one-off £2.50 per week £1 per week £40 one-off

GETTING INVOLVED

How to Take Part• Questionnaire

• www.leics.gov.uk/FairerChargingConsultation

• Events

• 1st August – 2:30pm-5:30pm – Loughborough Town Hall

• 9th August – 2pm-5pm & 5:30pm-8:30pm

– Parklands Leisure Centre, Oadby

• 14th August – 2pm-5pm & 5:30pm-8:30pm

– Tiger’s Stadium, Leicester

EXAMPLE

Any Questions?

We may include these on the Frequently Asked Questions found at

www.leics.gov.uk/FairerChargingConsultation

CONTACT US

Linsey Vincent

0116 30 56155

[email protected]

Edd Tillen

0116 30 53767

[email protected]

[email protected]