Chapter 6 Finance and funding

(Publication: Guide to Care at Home 2008-2009)

This chapter tells you about some of the benefits for which you may be eligible and how to apply for them. It also indicates which care services you have to pay for and outlines your payment options.

Benefits and other financial support

This section gives a summary of some of the benefits and financial support for which you may be eligible. You can get details of these and other benefits from you local Benefits Office or Jobcentre Plus office, see the Phone Book for details under ‘Jobcentres’, or from the government's public service website www.direct.gov.uk

You can also get booklets about benefits from many post offices.

If you have an illness or disability

Attendance Allowance (AA)
If you are over 65 and you need help looking after yourself, you may qualify for Attendance Allowance. There are two rates, higher and lower, depending on the care you need. AA is not means tested and is tax free.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
If you are under 65 and you need help looking after yourself, you may qualify for Disability Living Allowance. It is paid at different rates depending on how your disability affects you. There is a care component (three rates) and a mobility component (two rates). You can receive one or both components. If you are awarded the allowance before you are 65 you can continue to receive it when you are over 65.

You can get DLA whether or not you work and it isn’t usually affected by any savings or income you may have.

If you start to get DLA it might lead to other benefit entitlement, such as Income Support, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.

If you have any questions about AA and DLA and their rates, then phone the Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance helpline on tel 0845 712 3456, textphone 0845 722 4433

If you are caring for someone

Carer’s Allowance
Carer’s Allowance is paid to people who look after someone who is disabled. You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.

You may qualify for Carer’s Allowance if you meet the following criteria:

you are aged 16 or over
you spend at least 35 hours a week looking after someone who gets Attendance Allowance or the middle or higher rate of Disability Living Allowance.

You may also qualify if the person you look after gets Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, Constant Attendance Allowance or War Pensions Constant Attendance Allowance.

You need to be aware that payment of Carer’s Allowance may reduce other benefits that are paid to you or the person you look after, so it’s worth seeking advice before claiming.

The benefit is dealt with by the Disability and Carer Benefits Service at the Carer’s Allowance Unit, website: www.gov.uk/en/DG_10012522
tel 01253 856123, textphone 01772 899489

If you are on low income

Working Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit is a payment to top up the earnings of low paid working people.

To qualify for the disabled elements of Working Tax Credit you must:

be 16 or over
work an average of 16 hours or more a week
be restricted in the type of work, number of hours or amount you can earn because of your disability
have less that £16,000 in household income.

You can find out more from the Inland Revenue Tax Credits helpline.
tel 0845 300 3900, textphone 0845 300 3909

Income Support.
Income Support is an income-related benefit for people aged 16 years up to 60 that are on low income. The amount of Income Support due may be affected by other income into the household. Savings over a certain amount usually mean you cannot get Income Support (this figure normally changes annually so you should check the current amount).

Pension Credit
If you or your partner are aged 60 or over you may be entitled to Pension Credit which guarantees everyone aged 60 and over a minimum income. People over 65 can also qualify for Savings Credit.

You may still be able to get Pension Credit if your weekly income is more than the minimum, if, for example, you or your partner:

is a severely disabled person
or looks after a person who is severely disabled
or has certain housing costs – for example, mortgage interest payments.

Contact the Pension Service for more information or to apply for Pension Credits. Have your National Insurance number handy and call freephone 0800 99 1234, textphone 0800 169 0133 Monday to Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday 9am-1pm, website: www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/pensioncredit

The Pension Service also offers a face-to-face service.

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit
Eligibility for these benefits depends on your income and family circumstances. Even if you cannot get Council Tax Benefit you may be able to get your bill reduced, (for example, if you live alone or your home has been adapted to meet the needs of a disabled person). These benefits are paid by your local Borough, City or District Council - see Chapter 9.

Help for one-off expenses – the Social Fund

The Social Fund provides lump sum payments, grants and loans, which are discretionary and not for a standard amount. It is administered by Jobcentre Plus and includes community care grants, crisis loans, budgeting loans, funeral payments and cold weather payments. Winter fuel payments are also a type of Social Fund payment, but they are restricted to people over 60.

Community Care Grant
Community care grants are intended to help with expenses so that people can live in the community and families can stay together. You may be able to get a community care grant if you are getting Income Support or income-based Jobseekers Allowance or Pension Credit, and are leaving residential or institutional care, or:

need help to stay in your own home
have had an unsettled way of life
are facing exceptional pressure.

Budgeting Loan
You may be able to get a Budgeting Loan of up to £1,500* if you are getting Income Support or income-based Jobseekers Allowance or Pension Credit Jobseekers Allowance and you need essential things that you can’t pay for out of your regular income. *Always check as amounts may change

Crisis Loan
You may be able to get a Crisis Loan if you need immediate help with day-to-day living costs or other emergency help. You do not need to be on Income Support to qualify.

Funeral Payments
A funeral payment helps people on a low income with the essential costs of a funeral. You can claim a funeral payment if you or your partner is receiving Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Pension Credit.

Cold Weather Payments
You may be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment if you get pension credit or if you are getting Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and get one of the following:

a pensioner premium
a disability premium

You don't need to apply; you'll get a Cold Weather Payment automatically as long as you qualify. Tell your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus if you think you should have received a Cold Weather Payment but you have not had one.

Other payments and schemes

Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) is not a benefit, but a scheme which helps you protect your basic State Pension.

If you do not work or your earnings are low and you’re unable to pay enough National Insurance (NI) contributions towards your basic retirement pension because you have caring responsibilities you should ask for details of Home Responsibilities Protection.

Contact the Pension Service call centre on 0845 6060 265 or textphone 0845 6060 285 Monday to Friday 8am-5pm
Website: www.thepensionservice.gov.uk

Disabled Students Allowances (DSAs) help with costs incurred in attending recognised courses at university as a direct result of disabilities. DSAs are available to full-time and part-time students with disabilities although part-time students must be studying 50% of a full-time course. DSAs are available to both undergraduates and postgraduates.

You can find information about the financial support available for disabled students including details of the Disabled Students Allowances at www.direct.gov.uk/en/DG_10035904

You may also be entitled to help with your heating costs (Winter Fuel Payments) and insulation/home improvements (Warm Front Scheme). See under the Heating Your Home section in this chapter for further details.

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Applying for benefits

Age Concern, the Veterans Agency, local Citizens Advice Bureau’s and some Councils of Voluntary Service have staff who can give expert advice and help if you are applying for benefits. They are well-informed about benefits, know what information is needed, and can advise you how best to make your case. They are very happy to discuss your situation with you.

You can get full details of what is available, who is eligible and how to claim from your local Benefits office – contact details are in your local Phone Book. You can also get leaflets and claim forms by phoning the Benefit Enquiry Line (BEL) or by visiting the government's public service website www.direct.gov.uk

Benefits Enquiry Line (BEL)
tel 0800 88 22 00, textphone 0800 24 33 55
A confidential phone service for people with disabilities, their representatives and their carers. Staff give general, rather than personal advice.

Age Concern helpline
tel 0800 00 99 66 Monday to Friday 8am-7pm
Help and advice on a range of topics, including benefits

Veterans Agency and War Pensioners Welfare Service
tel 0800 169 2277, textphone 0800 169 3458
www.veteransagency.mod.uk
Help for former members of armed forces and their families

Citizens Advice Bureau
To find your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk or look under ‘C’ in your phone book.

Could you claim tax back on your savings?

If you don’t have to pay income tax, or have an income below a certain level and pay tax at 10% you could be eligible to claim tax back.

To register to get tax-free savings and also claim tax back that you have previously paid, call the registration helpline
tel 0845 0776543 Monday to Friday 8.30am-4.30pm
www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxback

Changes to benefits

Some benefits are affected if you go abroad, move into residential or nursing home or if you go into hospital. For example, Attendance Allowance and Disability Allowance (care and mobility component) stop completely after 28 days in hospital.

If your circumstances change, or you want more information about how benefits are affected, contact your local Jobcentre Plus office or Benefits office.

Concessions

Don’t forget – you may be entitled to other concessions, such as free NHS prescriptions, dental treatment and eye tests, free or reduced bus and rail travel or free TV licences. The criteria for receiving such concessions is usually based on age, disability or the benefits you receive.

For more information on travel concessions see Chapter 7.

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Which care services do you pay for?

There are no fixed charges for community care. What help costs, depends on where it comes from, how it is arranged or how much you can afford.

Most Health Service care is free – for example, seeing your doctor or hospital treatment – but many people have to pay for some things, for example, medicines supplied on prescription, eye tests and dental treatment.

The Adult Services Department provides free information and advice to all residents who are looking for services to help them stay in their own home. When Hampshire residents request support from the Adult Services Department, they will have an assessment of what help they and their carers need. People who are eligible for services from the Adult Services Department will be asked to complete a financial assessment to see if they will be expected to contribute towards the cost of their care or whether it will be funded by Adult Services.

For more information, obtain a free copy of Adult Services’ booklet ‘Paying for Care at Home’ by calling 0800 028 0888 or visit the website: www.hants.gov.uk/adult-services/care-at-homepublications.

You can decide not to receive any financial support from the council, in which case there is no need for you to have a financial assessment.

Most people have to pay for care services delivered in their own homes. For information on the cost of home care services, see Chapter 8.

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Direct Payments

If you are eligible for support from Adult Services, the Care Manager can organise the care and arrange payment for it. Depending on your financial assessment you may be billed by the Adult Services Department for all or a portion of your agreed care.

However, if you would prefer to organise things yourself, ask your care manager about Direct Payments. The scheme gives you money from Adult Services, according to your financial assessment, to buy care services to meet your assessed care needs.

Many people who use Direct Payments decide to employ their own personal assistant, who can be flexible about when and how they work – but others choose to buy services from organisations in the same way that Adult Services would.

The Direct Payments scheme can be used by:

most people aged 16 or over who qualify for Adult Services care
carers who get services to help them go on looking after a relative or friend
parents and adult carers of disabled children under 18.

Direct Payments support

Carers Together
9 Love Lane, Romsey SO51 8DE
tel 01794 519495
www.carerstogether.org.uk

Southampton Centre for Independent Living (SCIL)
Unit 12, 9-19 Rose Road, Southampton SO14 6TE
tel 023 8033 0982
textphone 023 8020 2649
www.southamptoncil.co.uk

Carers Together and SCIL provide support in New Forest, Eastleigh, Romsey, Havant, Petersfield, Fareham and Gosport

Enham
Direct Payments Support Worker Service
Enham Place, Enham Alamein, Andover SP11 6JS
tel/textphone 01264 345800
www.enham.co.uk
Provides support in Basingstoke, Winchester, Andover, Alton and Aldershot.

More information about the Direct Payments scheme can also be found on Hampshire’s Direct Payments website www.hants.gov.uk/direct-payments

Help with managing your finances in the future

You may wish to prepare for a time when you can no longer manage all the paperwork yourself. If so, the information in Chapter 1 about Powers of Attorney might be helpful.

Free legal advice and information

Community Legal Service Direct gives free information, help and advice on a range of common legal issues, including benefits, tax credits or debt.
tel 0845 345 4 345, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
www.clsdirect.org.uk

IndependentAge

If you or someone you know is in financial difficulty, the national charity IndependentAge may be able to help. Helping those over 65, and those over 40 who are unable to work because of a physical disability, successful applicants may be provided with a small income, emergency grants, help to pay care home fees or a place in one of their own care homes.
tel 020 7605 4200
www.independentage.org.uk

Financial abuse

People with mental incapacity are often highly vulnerable. Without the right protection, they can be at risk of financial abuse and could face losing their home or their savings. If you suspect that someone is being financially abused, contact your local Adult Services office or if you think a criminal offence has been committed, contact the Police straight away.

For more information about the protection of vulnerable adults, see Chapter 1.

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