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Community care

Charges for services to adults

The charges are for the services set out in your Care Plan, given to you after you have had a community care assessment. If you have a number of services this is called your 'package of care'.

Services charged for are:

The charges also include services provided from the Supporting People Service, such as Warden Support in sheltered or extra care housing.

Charges will still apply if you use Direct Payments to purchase your care.

What you will have to pay

Calderdale Council has set its charges in line with the Government guidance 'Fairer Charging Policies for Home Care and other non-residential social services'.  Fair access to care services|

Social Services has agreed that no matter how much care a service user needs they will not have to pay more than £104 per week, but many people will pay less – or no charge at all: To ensure your charge is at a minimum we will arrange to visit you at your home and offer you a benefits check and financial assessment.

Calculation of charges explains how allowances and expenses are taken into account to ensure that you still have money to live on even if you do have to pay a charge for your package of care.

People who will not be charged for services

Anyone whose services are provided under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 and anyone with Creuzfeldt Jacob Disease will not be charged for these services.

How to pay

You can use the payment card we supply to pay at:

• Calderdale Council cash offices by calling in or by post
• Any retail outlet where you see the PayZone sign
• any Post Office

You can also pay by standing order from your bank every week, every four weeks, or every month.

You can also pay by going to the Online payments for community care charges section, using the information from your care payment card.

Working out the charges

Soon after your services have been set up we will make an appointment so that a financial assessor from our Charging Assessment Team can visit you at home. You may wish to have someone with you when we visit you.

Financial assessors

Our financial assessor will ask to see details of your income and expenditure. They will also offer you advice on claiming any benefits you may be entitled to, and will help you complete the claim forms. It will help if you have ready bank books, statements, savings documents, rent books and evidence of your expenses – including details of any expenses you have because of an illness or disability.

Some important points:

• If you do not want to disclose your financial details: you will be asked to pay either the subsidised cost or the maximum charge, whichever is the least.
• Payment for your care services: payment will be due from the Monday following contact from the Charging Assessment Team.
• If you do not have some of your services during a week: you may be entitled to a refund, depending on how your charge was set; please contact the Care Charges Officer on 01422 841700.

Review of charges

You can ask for a review at any time if your circumstances have changed. If your care plan changes, this may change the amount you have to pay: we will tell you if this happens.

The Charging Assessment Team will make an appointment with you to review your financial assessment every 2 years or sooner if necessary.

If you think your charge has not been correctly set

If you want to discuss the details of your charge please contact the Charging Assessment Team Manager, at Princess Buildings, Halifax, HX1 1TP.   Tel:  01422 393660.

We can arrange for the assessment of your charge to be looked at again by a different financial assessor.

If you are still not happy there is an Appeals Procedure. You can also make a complaint to the Complaints and Compliments Manager.

• Contact:
• Complaints and Compliments Manager
• Address:
• Health and Social Care Headquarters
  1 Park Road
  Halifax HX1 2TU
• Telephone:
• 01422 363561.

Supporting People Service

If you receive a Supporting People Service, for example you live in sheltered accommodation and have a warden, the charge for this service is included in the subsidised cost.

If you have not applied for a Supporting People Grant, you can apply for an assessment to see if you may be entitled to pay a reduced Support Service Charge - you will need to fill in a form called SPG1 available from Adult Services on 01422 363561, or from your support officer, or you can contact the Supporting People Team on 01422 392645.

If you have had an assessment and are required to pay a contribution, it should be paid to your landlord.