Everyone who lives in or moves into extra care sheltered housing will have had an assessment of their care needs.  Extra Care tenants will have a financial assessment to determine what they will contribute to their care and housing costs.  Some people who are eligible for benefits will only have to make a contribution to their care costs.  This information leaflet sets out all the costs which apply to the service

The amount you pay depends on your individual financial assessment.

Financial Assessment

If an applicant for extra care has savings or assets in excess of £22,250 or has chosen not to complete a financial assessment form, the full cost of care will be payable.  The care costs at each scheme are available on application.  Ownership of property will be treated as a capital asset in the same way as it is for residential care applicants.  There will be a 12-week disregard of the value of the property after which Extra Care service users will be charged at full cost.  There may be exemptions, for example where a dependent relative still lives at home.

Please note that if applicants own their own property, housing benefit would not be payable from the day they move into the extra care scheme and therefore rent and service charge as well as Supporting People charge will be payable.

Rent and Service Charges – these charges cover the basic rent for the flat and are payable to the Housing Association which owns the scheme and an amount to cover building related services which are provided. Rent covers the costs of the building and repairs and maintenance.  The service charge covers the costs of cleaning the communal areas, electricity/ gas costs in the communal areas (and this includes the Catering Kitchen where a meals service is provided), external maintenance and gardening, and lift servicing.  Some Housing Associations apportion this charge for 48 weeks of the year and some for 52 weeks. 

Support Charges - these charges cover the costs of provision of the sheltered housing scheme officer (employed by the Housing Association) and the cost of servicing the alarm call service which is provided in every flat and in communal areas.  Where people are entitled to Supporting People Subsidy - this is paid for out of the Council’s Supporting People Grant to the Housing Association.

Council Tax – Everyone living in their own flat needs to pay Council Tax.  If you are in receipt of Housing Benefit you may also receive Council Tax Benefit to pay your Council Tax.

Care Costs – This weekly amount covers the full costs of providing a care service at the scheme.  The amount covers the costs of the staff salaries to provide the care service at the scheme for 24 hours a day.  The reason the scheme is an extra care scheme is so that we can provide this 24 hour service.  Some tenants will use it all the time and some tenants may only use the night time service is they are unwell.  However, we must ensure that the full 24 hour care is there to cover all needs and emergencies.  There is a very small amount which covers the office costs e.g. providing office equipment and stationery and office telephone.

If an applicant is in receipt of Pension Credit or Income Support and/or Housing Benefit at their current address and also receives Attendance Allowance or DLA Care [middle] component, then the charge for care would be £13.84 (2008/9 rate).  If the applicant is in receipt of the above but the DLA Care component is paid at the higher rate, the charge would be £35.99 per week (2008/9 rate).

If an applicant is in receipt of Pension Credit or Income Support and/or Housing benefit but no Attendance Allowance or DLA then the extra care costs will be free.

Food - Our Catering Provider offers a choice of nutritionally balanced meals, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.  They also cater for special dietary requirements.  The meal costs reflect the costs of provision of the food and the staff costs to cook and serve.  No additional costs included.