Social Services Charging Policy
Who will be charged
Service users who don’t fall into one of the categories in section 6 of this charging policy will be provided with a financial assessment showing their assessed charge. They will be invoiced for their contribution towards the cost of their care and support.
Other local authorities and service providers who use PCC facilities and services to meet the needs of children will be charged the appropriate rate. Parents of children who choose service options over and above what is required to meet the assessed needs of those children will be charged in line with the Additional Cost Contribution regulations.
Third parties who contribute towards the cost of care for a friend/relative, will be charged. This is known as an additional cost contribution.
Self funding
Under s35 of the SSWBA, those who self-fund a care home placement can ask their local authority to arrange their care and support for them if they choose. Pembrokeshire County Council will agree to arrange the care placement if an assessment of needs determines the service being requested is needed. If Pembrokeshire County Council arranges the care home placement, Pembrokeshire County Council will hold the contract and the person or their financial representative will be invoiced for the full cost of the placement. Pembrokeshire County Council will charge an administration fee for this service. If the person’s financial resources reduce below the limit set in regulations while the person is still in the placement, then financial information will have to be provided so a financial assessment can be done to determine the person’s care charge. If the cost of the placement is more than the standard cost PCC will ordinarily pay for such a placement then the Additional Cost Contribution rules will apply when the person’s financial resources reduce below the limit set in regulations.
Those who self-fund and contract directly with a care home will need to refer in to Social Services for an assessment of needs at least 6 months before their savings will fall below the legislated threshold. Pembrokeshire County Council will begin to contract with the care home on their behalf from the date agreed in the care and support plan. Their Pembrokeshire County Council assessed charge will also start from the date agreed in the care and support plan.
Those who self-fund through Pembrokeshire County Council will need to notify social services care management and financial assessment teams at least 3 months before their savings will fall below threshold. They may be required to provide updated financial information for a revised financial assessment. Their revised charge will apply from the date their savings will fall below the threshold. If the cost of a self funded placement is above the standard rate that Pembrokeshire County Council would usually pay, then the self funder may be asked to move to a standard cost placement when their savings/capital falls below the threshold
Full cost charge
An assessed full cost charge based on information provided for a financial assessment will continue to apply until the service user’s savings/asset(s) value reduces below the limits set in regulations. If a person has savings above the national limit and an interest in a property, then only after the savings has reduced to below the national limit, will the property be taken into account in the financial assessment. If this reduction takes longer than 12 weeks then the 12-week property disregard will no longer apply. PCC will use the proportion of the full cost charge attributable to the savings/asset(s) to reduce their value. This will continue to apply unless PCC is provided with evidence to the contrary. A full cost charge that was applied because no financial information was provided will continue to apply until that information is provided and a financial assessment is done to determine the person’s care charge. This new assessed charge will apply from the date the financial assessment is completed.
Additional cost contribution (ACC)
Non- Residential Services
There may be additional costs relating to activities that take place during the provision of non-residential services. These could include costs such as entrance fees, meals out etc. These costs will be paid by the service user or a third party, such as the service user’s personal assistant or support worker at the time of purchase. Direct payments and Day Opportunity awards will not be provided to cover these types of costs as they do not relate to a service user’s assessed needs.
If the service user or their representative want additional care or support, then they will need to arrange this directly with the non-residential service provider. All costs for this arrangement will have to be paid directly to the service provider by the person or their financial representative.
Residential Services
A service user may choose a more expensive option that is over and above what is required to meet their assessed needs. In such cases, it may be possible for a third party to pay the difference between what Pembrokeshire County Council will pay and the cost of the service. The third party will need to be willing to pay the additional cost for the term that the service is required out of their own financial resources. They must provide the required financial information so an assessment can be done on the affordability and long term sustainability of this payment. If the third party defaults on payment and is unable or unwilling to pay the additional cost then the service user may be moved to a room/care home placement at the standard Pembrokeshire County Council rate.
A service user is only allowed to pay an additional cost contribution [ACC] if it can be deferred against their financial interest in a property. This will be subject to the property being eligible for inclusion in the financial assessment. If, under the financial regulations, the property cannot be taken into account in the financial assessment, then the service user will not be allowed to defer the ACC against it.
If Pembrokeshire County Council are unable to provide two options for a temporary or permanent care home placement at the standard rate Pembrokeshire County Council would usually expect to pay, then Pembrokeshire County Council will pay the additional cost of a suitable placement that will meet the person’s needs.