City of York Council’s Cabinet will consider plans for how customers paying for adult social care will be charged under the new Care Act 2014 legislation at a meeting later this month (16 December).
The Care Act is the biggest change to how social care is delivered for over 60 years, and will lead to significant changes for the council, partner organisations and providers (including the voluntary sector), service users and carers. The changes will be implemented in two phases – April 2015 and April 2016.
The Care Act brings together best practice around personalisation and makes people’s rights to direct payments and a personal budget statutory, provisions that are already available in most local authorities, including York.
Some important changes in Phase 1 of the Act include;
- · A national minimum eligibility criteria for service users and carers.
- · The right to an assessment, support plan and personal budget regardless of personal financial circumstances.
- · Carers are placed on an equal footing with those for whom they care for and can access an assessment against the eligibility criteria to identify what needs the person may have and what outcomes they are looking to achieve. The purpose of the assessment will support the determination of whether needs are eligible for care and support from the local authority.
Important changes in Phase 2 from April 2016 include-
- · For the first time a cap (£72,000 for people aged 65 and over) will be placed on the amount that an individual will have to pay towards care and support in their lifetime. Accommodation costs will be separated from
- care and support costs and will need to be paid once the cap is reached.
- · An extended means test will be introduced, meaning that more people will be eligible for financial support.
The reforms set out how people will pay for care and how they can access financial support and robust information and advice.
The Cabinet will be asked to approve amendments to the council’s polices and procedures so that they are aligned to the new legislation and ensure that the necessary financial regulations are in place ready for the implementation of the first phase of the Care Act on 1 April 2015, including:
- · Proposals to retain City of York Council’s existing deferred payment scheme, though reviewing it bi-annually – which enables people to delay paying the costs of their care and support so they don’t have to sell their home during their lifetime – in addition to the new universal deferred payment scheme which will be brought in under the Care Act. If approved, customers using the deferred payment option will be charged an initial set up fee of £221. Further administration, legal and valuation costs by be charged throughout the agreement
- · A new Direct Payments Policy, which sets out how the council will pay a person needing care and support, or someone else acting on their behalf, for all or part of their care costs.
- · The council’s revised care charging policy. The amount a customer will pay towards their care will be calculated following a financial assessment of their income and assets, as at present. Those who pay for their own care but want the council to administer their personal care account will be charged £280 per annum
- · A proposal not to introduce a universal charge for support to carers, which is an option under the Care Act, but reserves the right to do so under certain circumstances.