A consultation on 3 options designed to make the council’s policy sustainable launches today (Monday 3 July 2023) and will run until Wednesday 4 October 2023.
People who receive adult social care and support in the community and/or their representatives will receive a letter including a copy of a questionnaire to fill in and return.
The proposals do not affect anyone living permanently in a residential or nursing home.
An online version of the questionnaire is also available for the public to give their views.
Under the Care Act 2014 We have a legal duty to assess anyone who requests adult care support, regardless of their financial circumstances, to determine if they have any eligible social care needs.
If they are assessed as having eligible care needs they then undergo a financial assessment to work out how much they should contribute towards the cost of receiving that support.
Councils can decide how much to charge people who receive care and support in the community and to date the county council has:
- Set a capital limit of £50,000 before someone has to pay the full cost of their care in the community – the national limit is £23,250
- Assessed a tariff income of £1 in every £500 for people with capital assets between £14,250 and £50,000. The national tariff income is £1 in every £250 for people with capital assets between £14,250 and £23,250.
- Set an upper limit of £51.07 - or a maximum of 75% of relevant benefits - on what people are asked to contribute. Research shows most authorities charge people on 100% of their disposable income.
People are now being asked for their views on 3 options to change our community care charging policy to:
Option 1:
- Introduce the national capital limit of £23,250
- Introduce the national tariff income of £1 in every £250 for those with capital between £14,250 - £23,250
- Charge on 100% of disposable income with a £20 a week disability related expenditure disregard (an automatic weekly allowance for all people).
Option 2:
- The same as Option 1 but charge on 90% of disposable income with a £20 a week disability related expenditure disregard (an automatic weekly allowance for all people).
Option 3:
- The same as Option 1 but charge on 80% of disposable income with a £20 a week disability related expenditure disregard (an automatic weekly allowance for all people).
People are also asked about our disability related expenditure process. Under the proposed new policy, charges relating to respite in a residential care home or nursing home would also change and be based on the person’s capital and disposable income.
Councillor Natalie Hoy, Cabinet Member for Adult Care, said:
Councillor Natalie Hoy, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Care, said: “We want to hear from as many people as possible and please be assured that no decisions will be made about any changes until we’ve given people the opportunity to tell us their views and we have taken these fully into account.
“We’re committed to supporting people to remain living independently at home for longer but with demand rising we have to ensure adult care support is fair and sustainable.
“Spending on adult care services accounts for almost half of the council’s overall budget so we must consider how we fund services now – and in the future – so that we can continue to protect those who need us most.”
A series of online and face-to-face public meetings have also been arranged for the public to attend. These will be held on:
- Monday 17 July 2023 – North Wingfield Community Resource Centre – 10.30am-12pm
- Tuesday 18 July 2023 – Microsoft Teams – 6.30pm-8pm
- Wednesday 19 July 2023 – Risley Memorial Hall – 10.30am-12pm
- Friday 21 July 2023 – Microsoft Teams – 1pm-2.30pm
- Monday 31 July 2023 – Glossop Methodist Church – 10.30am-12pm
- Wednesday 2 August 2023 – IKON Church, Hasland – 10.30am-12pm
- Wednesday 2 August 2023 – Microsoft Teams – 6.30pm-8pm
- Friday 4 August 2023 – Microsoft Teams – 1pm-2.30pm
- Tuesday 8 August 2023 – Bainbridge Hall, Bolsover – 10.30am-12pm
- Wednesday 9 August 2023 – Belper Football Club – 10.30am-12pm
- Monday 21 August 2023 – Microsoft Teams – 10.30am-12pm
Places must be booked in advance by contacting the county council’s Stakeholder Engagement and Consultation Team, tel: 01629 531307 or email tell.adultcare@derbyshire.gov.uk
The team can support people who need help filling out the questionnaire and can supply them in different languages and formats on request.