An overview of adult social care

Complete a financial assessment

What is a financial assessment? 

  • If you're eligible for social care and support, you must fill out a financial assessment form. The financial assessment shows how much you need to pay towards your care. The amount you pay, known as a contribution, depends on your finances. If your capital and savings are £23,250 or more, you'll need to cover the full cost of your care.

 What the financial assessment looks at:

  • Your savings, investments, and capital. We won't count your home's value if you or your partner still live there as your main home. 
  • Your weekly income from pensions and benefits. This includes disability benefits. We won't include earnings from paid work or the mobility part of disability benefits. 

What you pay also depends on the weekly cost of your care. If the weekly cost of your care services is:

  • Less than your assessed charge, you will need to pay the full cost of your care. 
  • More than your assessed charge, we can possibly assist with your care costs.

The care needs assessment and financial assessments ensure you get the right care and know the costs. If we cannot provide the support, we will refer you to the most appropriate agency.

Saving thresholds

If you have savings and assets of more than £23,250

If you have savings and assets of more than £23,250 you will have to pay the full cost of your care. If your weekly income, including any tariff income, is higher than the cost of your care home, you will need to pay the full cost of your care. 

  • The value of any property you own may be treated as capital to calculate your charge.
  • If you have any savings or assets, we’ll classify you as a self-funding client. Usually, this means you’ll need to sign a contract directly with the care home. 
  • If your assets are in a property you don’t want to sell now, or if you’re getting ready to sell, we could arrange a deferred payment agreement with you. This is a loan that helps cover your care home costs. Any money we pay is repaid when you sell your property or leave the care home. 

If you have savings and assets of less than £23,250

If you have savings and assets of less than £23,250 and your weekly income is less than the weekly cost of the care home, we can offer financial help.

  • You will still need to contribute towards the cost of your care.
  • We will do a financial assessment to see how much you can pay each week.
  • We will consider any pensions or benefits you receive, such as; Pension Credit, Income Support, Employment Support Allowance, Universal Credit. Any extra social security benefits you may be entitled to claim for your stay in the home.
  • The mobility part of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment isn’t counted as income.

You need to claim all the benefits you’re entitled to for your contribution.

Completing a financial assessment

To complete a financial assessment you will need:

  • Your personal details
  • Your National Insurance number
  • To confirm your capital and savings.

Begin your financial assessment

 

Need to upload evidence?

You can upload evidence of:

  • savings in bank accounts, building societies, ISAs, or premium bonds
  • stocks and shares you own
  • property or land that you own.

You will need your financial assessment reference.

Upload a document

What happens next?

  • You will be sent a letter advising you of the outcome of your financial assessment. This will include a breakdown of your assessment. It will also show you how it has been calculated. This letter will also include a Direct Debit form for you to complete. This will set up a Direct Debit for your care services. You can upload your Direct Debit on our managing your adult social care page.

Uplifts

An uplift is an automatic annual assessment. It happens for everyone who receives care services. We check contributions each year as state benefits and other income may rise. We will write to you about these changes each year. If you have not had a review in the last three years, we may send you a review form.

You must tell us about any changes in circumstances within one month of the change. Changes reported after one month will only take effect from the date we are told. If you don't tell us about a change, any increased charge starts from the date of the change.