Community Care Charging Consultation
Bradford Council is commencing a consultation on proposed changes to the discretionary elements of the Adult Social Care Non-Residential Contribution Policy.
Community Care Services help people who are disabled, have long term health problems or are elderly with adult social care eligible needs to live more independently in their homes and the community). You will have been assessed by a social worker and your eligible needs can be met in a variety of personalised ways, for example by a service managed by the council or purchased yourself by a direct payment received from the council.
Community Care Services include:
- Day care (unless provided as part of a package of residential care)
- Personal care
- Outreach support
- Supported Living services
- Time Out
- Extra Care Housing
- Direct Payments
Contributions towards the cost of Community Care Services are not charged if a person is:
- suffering from Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease
- in receipt of 100% Continuing Healthcare Funding
- receiving aftercare under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act
When people start to receive this service, a financial assessment is carried out to find out what your income and expenditure is.
The financial assessment helps us work out the maximum amount you would need to pay towards the community care services you receive.
When we work out how much people need to pay towards their community care services (like homecare and day services), through a financial assessment we use guidance provided by the Government.
The Government has set a national ‘Minimum Income Guarantee’ (MIG), which is an amount of money set by the Government that any individual must be left with to live on after their care charge is taken into account.
The Council’s current policy allows older people and younger disabled people who use adult social care services to keep 25% above the basic levels of income support, which we call a discretionary buffer. This means that if basic levels of income support are £200 per week the Council currently allows people to keep £250 after their charge.
Bradford Council is proposing to remove this discretionary buffer in Bradford district, and we want to consult with you about this via a public consultation. A public consultation will help the Council to fully understand the impact that this proposed change may have on you.
If the proposed change goes ahead, your contribution towards the cost of your care would be in line with the national Minimum Income Guarantee and would still be based on your individual financial circumstances following a personalised financial assessment.
The earliest any change would be made is 1 August 2025, but we would write to you again if any change is going to happen. We would also need to complete a new financial assessment, including taking into account any Disability Related Expenditure, and to ensure you are receiving all the welfare benefits from the Government that you or your household are entitled to. We can help you to claim these.
What happens next?
We will be writing to all current service users and will share a paper copy of questionnaire allowing them to submit their feedback.
We are keen to hear your thoughts and views on the proposal.
We are also holding a series of face-to-face events where you can drop in and have your say in person. These events will take place in accessible venues.
Have your say!
The consultation begins on Monday, 10 February and you have until Monday, 5 May 2025 to participate and feedback on the changes. There are various ways you can get involved including face to face and online sessions, accessing the questionnaire online and easy read formats will also be available.
Details are set out below of how to access these sessions. To reserve your place please click on one of the links below or email [email protected].
Questionnaire links
You can download the questionnaire if you would like to complete it and email it back to: [email protected]
Questions and answers about the consultation
You can read questions and answers about this consultation.
If you need the documents in an alternative format or know of someone else who would benefit from this information, please email [email protected] or contact: 01274 436464 (Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm and Friday, 9am to 4.30pm)
Consultation letters to people paying the full cost of their care
You may have received a letter stating the current amount you pay towards the cost of you care services is nil. This is an error.
Please accept our apologies, a correct letter will be sent to you in the week commencing 24 February 2024.
This will include the amount you are currently paying for your care.
Please note, however, as you are paying for the full cost of your care you will not be directly impacted by the proposed change, however, we wrote to you so you have an opportunity to participate in the consultation process if you want to.