Paying for care

We need to assess your social care needs in order to determine whether you are eligible for support from the council.

The amount of money the council will pay for this is called a personal budget, which is either paid to you as a direct payment, or the council arranges services for you which cost the same amount. Local Authority support for care is means-tested. You may need to contribute towards the cost of your care depending on your circumstances, therefore you are required to complete a financial assessment (see details below) to determine how much you can afford to contribute towards your care cost.

• How much will I pay?
• Financial assessment form
• Hospital and benefits
• A short stay in a Residential, Nursing Home or Supported Housing
• Living in a Residential or Nursing Home
• Making online payments
• What should I do if I think my contribution is wrong?
• What if I need more information?

How much will I pay?

Your contribution towards the cost of services in the community, including Personal Budgets, is worked out using The Care and Support (Charging and Assessment of Resources) Regulations 2014.

Anyone with savings and assets above £23,250 is a self-funder. Self-funders can arrange their own care with the care provider; however, they may request the council to arrange their care and make payments on their behalf for a fee.

• Find out more about the  Contributions for Community Care Services 2021/22 (PDF, 235KB)

See our Paying for your own care page for more information. Your contribution towards the cost of services in the community is worked out using our Fairer Charging Policy (PDF 129 KB).

For anyone with savings and assets below £23,250, you will need to contribute based on your needs and financial circumstances.

For further guidance, please visit:

• Department Of Health - Deferred Payment Agreements (external link)
• Department Of Health and Social Care - Charging and Financial Assessment (external link)

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Financial assessment form

Complete online

You can now complete the Financial assessment form online and securely attach supporting documents within the form:

Financial assessment e-formComplete online

Print and send by post

Alternatively, you can download the printable version, complete it and send it to the address below:

• Financial assessment form (PDF, 484KB)

Address
Financial Assessment Team
2nd Floor River Park House
225 High Road
Wood Green
London
N22 8HQ

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Hospital and benefits

If you are going into hospital you should immediately notify the Department for Work and Pensions (external link) and the council office that deals with your claims for Housing and Council Tax benefit. This is important to avoid overpayments as your benefit entitlement may have to be reassessed to take account of your hospital stay.

Up to six weeks of reablement is free of charge.

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A short stay in a residential, nursing home or supported housing

A short stay is often called respite care. Your contribution towards the cost of this service is worked out using our Fairer Charging Policy (PDF 129 kB). If you receive other services in the community you will only pay one contribution.

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Living in a residential or nursing home

Your contribution towards the cost of living in a residential or nursing home is worked out using The Care and Support (Charging and Assessment of Resources) Regulations.

The amount you pay will take into account your pensions and welfare benefits. If you receive basic Pension Credit or Employment and Support Allowance you will normally pay the following minimum amount per week:

Private pensions

If you have a private pension or other income you may have to pay more than this. You are entitled to give half of your private pension to your partner unless you both live in the same residential or nursing home.

Personal allowance

You will keep a personal allowance of £24.90 to spend as you wish. If you are over 65 you may be entitled to an increased allowance. Anyone with savings over £23,250 will pay the full cost of their residential or nursing home placement.

Your property

The value of your property will be taken into account but can be disregarded in certain circumstances, for example, if your partner continues to live there. Where the value is taken into account it will be disregarded for the first 12 weeks of entering your permanent care home but you will pay a contribution based on your income and savings.

If you have transferred your property or capital assets before moving into a residential or nursing home in order to reduce your accommodation charge, we may decide to treat you as still possessing that asset.

If you do not wish to sell your property straight away the Deferred Payment Scheme allows you to defer payment of part of the cost of your care until you sell your property or move out of residential care. You can decide to rent or lease your property and add the income you receive to the amount you contribute from your pensions and other income.

More information can be found in the documents below:

• Haringey Deferred Payment Scheme leaflet (PDF, 115KB)
• Haringey Deferred Payment Scheme Policy April 2015 (PDF, 414KB)

Third-party top-up

We are only able to pay up to a certain limit towards the cost for your residential or nursing home each week. If you choose a home which charges more than this limit someone else must pay the extra. This is known as a 'third party top-up' and must come from a third party, for example, family members, charities or friends.

A third party top-up is normally paid directly to the home in addition to any contribution from income and assets.

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Making online payments

You can pay your community care charges with a credit or debit card using our secure online payment service. Click on the following link for more information and to open a separate window to a secure payment site:

• Make a payment

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What should I do if I think my contribution is wrong?

• If you think your contribution is wrong you can ask for a review of our decision and a senior officer will look at your case. If the senior officer agrees the decision was wrong we will amend the charge and write to you. We will also write to you if we think the original decision is right
• If you are still not satisfied you can appeal against this decision and we will arrange for a panel to hear your case
• If you think you have not been treated fairly you can contact the Local Government Ombudsman on 0845 602 1983

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What if I need more information?

If you have any questions about contributions for community care services, please contact us at the following address:

• Income Maximisation and Personal Budget Finance Service
  Haringey Council Adult Services
  2nd Floor, River Park House
  225 High Road
  Wood Green
  London N22 8HQ
• Tel 020 8489 5501
• Email FinanceAssessmentTeam@haringey.gov.uk

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Useful external links

• DirectGov: The public services website
• GOV.UK Benefits Adviser
• The Welfare rights website for advice workers
• Department for Work and Pensions

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