Home Care services provided by Social Services in Bath & North East Somerset are chargeable services.  People who receive the service are charged for the help that they receive.  Some people will be exempt from charges because they are on a low income – if they are in receipt of certain benefits they will be automatically exempt.  Others will have less to pay because we will allow for certain things they already pay for – this is called Disability Related Expenditure.

Disability Related Expenditure:  This refers to certain kinds of expenditure that you have to incur because of your disability.  It will not necessarily include all services that you pay for privately.  For example if you employ a cleaner privately because you cannot do your own cleaning, we will only count as DRE the cleaning we regard as essential, such as maintaining a hygienic kitchen and bathroom.  We will not necessarily count everything that you consider necessary to keep up your personal standards.  We will not count certain other things such as transport, gardening or ironing.

• If you have been assessed as eligible to receive a Home Care service, your social worker will ask you to complete a form called HSS50 which is a financial assessment.  The social worker will assist you and can explain anything you find confusing.  This form will go to the Client Finance Team and you may receive a visit from a Visiting Officer who will go through a financial assessment process with you if you have requested one.  At the same time the officer can advise you if you are eligible for any benefits, and can assist you in applying for these.

You are not obliged to have a financial assessment if you do not wish to, but in this case you will be charged the full rate.  We strongly advise you to have a financial assessment.

• If you are in receipt of Income Support (IS) or Pension Guaranteed Credit (PGC) and/or Housing Benefit (HB) and do not receive Attendance Allowance (AA) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA Care Component at middle or higher rate) you will be entitled to a free service.
• If you are in receipt of IS or PGC and/or HB and receive either AA or DLA (Care Component at middle or higher rate) you may be charged for the Home Care Service.  The charge is £14.00 per hour. However the maximum you will be charged in any one week is £13.84. Charges for Independent Agency Care, which are part of their care plan, are taken into account. 
• If you are NOT in receipt of IS or PGC and/or HB you are entitled to a financial assessment.  Charges for Local Authority Day Care and Independent Agency Care, which are part of your care plan, are taken into account.  The maximum charge for Home Care is £14.00 per hour to a maximum of £320.00 per week but this is based on a financial assessment where your capital/savings are below £22,250.  If you have more than £22,250 in savings or choose not to complete a financial assessment form, you will be charged at the rate of £14.00 per hour with no maximum charge.  We strongly recommend that you request a financial assessment. 
• Applicants with over £22,250 will not normally receive services arranged by social services unless they are particularly vulnerable and have no one to arrange services for them.    Your legal right to an assessment as a disabled person under the Community Care Act 1992 is not affected.  We can also provide advice and information. 

Other Useful Information

• List of independent care providers
• Local information directory - containing details for many local services such as gardening and laundry.
• There is also a database of local information about services for disabled people called Purple Pages. Their helpline telephone number is 0808 808 5252 and this is open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4.30pm.