The Department of Health has recently produced new
guidance to Councils on how they should charge people for community
based services.
The new policy and any changes in charges because of the policy
must be in place from April 1st 2010.
The guidance is called
Fairer Contributions : Calculating an
individual's contribution to their Personal Budget'.
The new system is intended to be fairer for all people, in that
the contributions they make will better reflect the actual care
being given. The system is also related to the introduction
of Personal
Budgets, which is where people receiving care have a greater
say in how to meet their needs in a more flexible way.
The new system will mean a change in the way people's
contributions are worked out. There will also be an impact on the
charges some people pay, which in some cases will mean an increase
in charges, in other cases, people may not be affected and the
amount paid will not rise.
The services that will be covered by the new charging
policy will include:
- Home Care
- Day Care (in a centre)
- Day Services (in the home / public setting)
- Adaptations
- Carers Services
- People using Personal Budgets and Direct Payments for buying
their own care
- Adult Placement
- Supported Living
- Supporting People
Any other non-residential services residential and nursing
accommodation is charged under a different policy called CRAG
(Charging for Residential Accommodation Guidance).
