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Guide on Costs and Funding
The cost of any long term care, whether Home Care or Live-in Care, can be a concern. This
is why it is so important to be aware of both the public and private funding options available.
Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance (AA) is a tax-free benefit you may get if you are aged 65 or over and
need help with personal care because you are physically or mentally disabled. Attendance
Allowance is not usually affected by any savings or income you may have.
If you’re under age 65, you may get the Disability Living Allowance instead.
For more details contact the Benefit Enquiry Line 0800 88 22 00 or visit www.direct.gov.uk
Carers Allowance
If you already have a family member who claims the Carer’s Allowance to look after you, dayto-day support services could help this person to go to work or take a break during the day.
Extra expenses may be claimed for paying a third party to provide care when needed. The
support services may also help when you need specialist care or a substantial amount of
looking after. You might be able to choose to employ people to help with care at home on
your own. You should seek advice from your local authority or local support organisations.
For more details contact the Benefit Enquiry Line 0800 88 22 00 or visit: www.direct.gov.uk
Continuing Care
The National Health Service (NHS) and local authorities should work together to meet your needs if
you have continuing health and social care needs when you leave hospital. Following the assessment
there are a number of possible care options including support at home. Continuing care can include
both health and social care.
Direct Payments
Direct payments are local council payments for people who have been assessed as needing
help from social services, and who would like to arrange and pay for their own care and
support services instead of receiving them directly from the local council.
The amount you receive will depend on the assessment your council makes of your needs.
To get direct payments, you need to contact your local council to ask them to assess your
needs.
For more details contact the Benefit Enquiry Line 0800 88 22 00 or visit: www.direct.gov.uk
Disability Living Allowance
This is sometimes referred to as DLA and is a tax-free benefit for children and adults who need help
with personal care or have walking difficulties because they are physically or mentally disabled. You
can get Disability Living Allowance whether you work or not. It is not usually affected by any savings
or income you may have. If you start to get Disability Living Allowance it might increase the amount
of other benefits you’re entitled to. Disability Living Allowance is ignored as income for working out
any income related benefits and tax credits. For more details contact the Benefit Enquiry Line 0800 88
22 00 or visit www.direct.gov.uk
Fully-funded NHS ‘continuing care’ is a package of care arranged and funded solely by the NHS. To
access this care you must meet the eligibility criteria set by your strategic health authority. If it is
thought that you are eligible, staff will apply on your behalf. If you meet your strategic health
Homepoint Healthcare Services 22-30A Abington Street, TCBC Business Centre Northampton, NN1 2AJ
P: 01604-215-530, F: 01604-215-531 e: [email protected]. www.homepointcareagency.co.uk
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authority’s criteria for NHS continuing care, the NHS will pay for all of your care needs. ‘Continuing
health and social care’ is a package of care that involves services from both the NHS and social care. If
you do not meet your strategic health authority’s criteria for NHS continuing care you may still be
entitled to support from health organisations, such as your local primary care trust, and from your local
council. When they assess you for discharge from hospital, your discharge team should arrange for
assessments to identify your needs and make appropriate referrals for you. For more details contact the
Benefit Enquiry Line 0800 88 22 00 or visit www.direct.gov.uk or www.nhs.uk
Independent Living Fund
The ILF was set up as a national resource to enable disabled people to live independent lives in their
community rather than in residential care. You can use payments from the ILF to pay a care agency or
employ someone to give you personal and domestic care, or both. The ILF is permanently closed to
new applicants.
Private Funding
It may be that you wish to pay for any care that you, or a family member, receive without
consulting with the social services or filling in any council forms. An alternative is that you
may decide to have a care fee payment plan that covers the cost of the care. In this case, it is
suggested that you consult an independent financial adviser.
Homepoint Healthcare Services 22-30A Abington Street, TCBC Business Centre Northampton, NN1 2AJ
P: 01604-215-530, F: 01604-215-531 e: [email protected]. www.homepointcareagency.co.uk