Free Personal Care
Following the implementation of Frank’s Law, from the 1 April 2019 Free Personal Care in Scotland is available to everyone aged over 16 years free of charge as part of their social care package, if they have been assessed as being eligible to receive personal care.
Free Personal Care will be available regardless of your age, condition or means (your income and savings). Previously, free personal care was only available to (eligible) people who were aged 65 or over.
If you are aged under 65 and currently receive personal care within your care and support package, your package will be reviewed to take this change in the law into account.
For all new social care assessments for social care, the personal care part will be included.
What is free personal care?
Personal care is defined as ‘anything done for you that is of a personal nature’. Here are some examples of personal care services that are free:
- Help with personal hygiene
- Assistance with eating
- Continence management
- Assistance with medication
- Assistance getting in/out of bed
- Help with dressing
Here are some examples of non-personal care services, which will remain chargeable:
- Housework
- Collecting pensions
- Shopping/running errands
- Making beds
- Telecare services such as the community alarm
- Day services
- Transport
Will I pay anything for my care package?
Whilst the personal care services will be supplied free of charge, if you receive non-personal care services as part of your care package these will continue to be charged, dependent on your income and savings.
We will carry out an assessment of your financial circumstances and, depending on your income, you may need to make a contribution to the cost of your non-personal care and support services.
Contact us
If you are currently receiving a care package and are aged under 65 and have any questions about your free personal care please contact your Care Manager.
If you would like an assessment to see if you are eligible to receive support, please contact our Access Care Team on 01343 563999 or email accesscareteam@moray.gov.uk.
Further information
There is more information about Free Personal Care at these websites:
Scottish Government website pages
Scottish Government Free Personal Care Questions and Answers