Queries and appeals

Charges for community care services in your own home or at a day centre

When we have made a decision about how much to charge you for your community care services we shall write and tell you how much you have to pay.

If you think that we are charging you the wrong amount this page explains what to do.

• Checking the decision
• Disability-related expenditure
• Asking for a review if you think the decision is wrong
• How to appeal if you are still not satisfied
• Who can appeal?
• Appeal panel
• The result
• How long will it take?
• If you have difficulty paying your charges
• If you still disagree

Checking the decision

When a decision has been made we will write to you giving you details of the charge. If you want more information about how the charge has been worked out, you can ask the Finance Assessment Team for an explanation.

|back to top

---

Disability-related expenditure

This ensures that expenditure related to your age and disabilities are taken into account. We disregard 70% of your disability benefit income to cover these costs.

If you think your disability or age-related expenditure is above this level, you can claim for extra expenses. If your expenses change after you have been assessed, you should tell us as this may affect the amount you are required to pay.

|back to top

---

Asking for a review if you think the decision is wrong

If you disagree with the decision you should tell us, explaining why you think it is wrong. Your case will then be looked at by a senior officer. If that senior officer agrees the decision was wrong, the charge will be changed and we shall write to you. We shall also write to tell you if we think the original decision is right.

|back to top

---

How to appeal if you are still not satisfied

If, after your decision has been reviewed, you are still not satisfied and think the decision is wrong you can appeal against the decision.

To appeal, you should write to us explaining why you disagree with the decision. Please remember to give us your name and address when you write to us. Write to:

Finance Assessment Team
40 Cumberland Road
Wood Green
London
N22 7SG

|back to top

---

Who can appeal?

The person who is getting the service or someone who has agreed to act on their behalf.

|back to top

---

Appeal panel

After you appeal we shall arrange for a panel to hear your case. The panel will normally include representatives from Adult Services and an outside organisation which knows about community care.

|back to top

---

The result

You will be told the result of your appeal in writing shortly after the hearing. If the appeal panel decides the decision about your charge is wrong, you will be sent a new statement showing the new charge.

If the panel thinks the decision is correct, they will write and tell you this.

|back to top

---

How long will it take?

Whenever possible we shall reply to a request for a review of a decision within two weeks.

When a case goes to an appeal panel we shall aim to set up the hearing within six weeks of receiving the request.

|back to top

---

If you have difficulty paying your charges

If you are having difficulty paying your community care charges you can write to the Finance Assessment Team (at the above address).

|back to top

---

If you still disagree

If you still disagree with the decision on your charges you do not have a further right of appeal through the Council system. However, if you think you have not been treated fairly you can complain to:

The Local Government Ombudsman
21 Queens Gate
London
SW1H 9BU

|
|