Paying for Care

Contributing towards the cost of your care and support and the Financial Assessment

The Contribution Policy

The Self-directed Support (Scotland) Act 2013 means that the care you can choose to receive is no longer limited to the services provided by the Council. Instead, support is tailored more specifically to help you achieve your own personal goals. The aim is to give you a lot more choice in the kind of care you receive and control over how that is provided and by who.

Rather than being charged based on the individual services you receive, the Contributions Policy means that you are asked to make a contribution towards the full cost of your overall care and support package.

The Contributions Policy is the basis for evaluating your contribution to your care whether you choose Council services or other options.  We will calculate your contribution based on the information provided in your financial assessment to make sure you are not asked to pay more than you can afford.

Not all services are charged for.

Financial Assessment

Once your care plan has been agreed with you, your Care Officer will arrange for the financial assessment to be carried out and arrange a visit to help gather the details we need. You can ask a carer, relative, friend or other representative to be there to help you.

This financial assessment is always carried out after your care needs have been assessed so you can be assured the services you are offered are those which will best meet your needs and are never affected by how much you can afford to pay towards them.

When assessing your financial situation to see whether you should pay towards care at home services, we need to know about all your financial affairs.

You can choose not to have a financial assessment if you wish. However, this will mean that you will pay the full charge for the care that your care officer has agreed with you. The financial assessment is there to work out if you are entitled to financial assistance from Moray Council, and it can help you to plan for your future.

Another important reason to have the financial assessment is that from the information you provide, we will be able to see whether you may be entitled to welfare benefits you are not already receiving. We can provide you with information on benefits maximisation and you may wish to contact the Department of Work and Pensions for further details on making a claim. 

Preparing for Your Financial Assessment

It is helpful to start thinking about your finances and begin gathering documents together before the meeting so that you have all the information ready for your financial assessment.

You will need to show evidence of your weekly income and savings, such as benefit notifications, bank statements and savings books. Do you have paperwork to hand which you can show us or will you need to obtain copies? Do you know your National Insurance Number?

Self Directed Support

Self Directed Support can help you achieve changes in your life. It is an opportunity for you to have more choice and control, enabling you to enjoy greater independence.

Free Personal Care

The extension of Free Personal Care to all under 65s who require it, regardless of condition, applies from 1 April 2019.

Free personal and/or nursing care is available to adults in Scotland who have been assessed by the local authority as needing these services.

If you have been assessed as needing personal and/or nursing care you will receive this free of charge regardless of income, capital assets, age or marital or civil partner status. However, if you live in a residential care home you will need to contribute towards your remaining accommodation costs.

Personal Care Services

Personal care is defined as ‘anything done for you that is of a personal nature’ such as:

  • Personal Hygiene - Bathing, showering, hair washing, shaving, oral hygiene, nail care
  • Continence Management - Toileting, catheter/stoma care, skin care, incontinence laundry, bed changing
  • Food and Diet - Assistance with the preparation of food and assistance with the fulfilment of special dietary needs
  • Problems with Immobility - Dealing with the consequences of being immobile or substantially immobile
  • Counselling and Support - Behaviour management, psychological support, reminding devices
  • Simple Treatments - Assistance with medication (including eye drops), application of creams and lotions, simple dressings, oxygen therapy
  • Personal Assistance - Assistance with dressing, surgical appliances, prostheses, mechanical and manual aids. Assistance to get up and go to bed. Transfers including the use of a hoist

The following care services may be chargeable:

  • Help with housework
  • Laundry
  • Shopping
  • Services outwith your home such as day care centres or lunch clubs
  • Cost of supplying food or pre-prepared meals is chargeable, but support with preparing meals will be provided free

The local authority can arrange these services but they are subject to a financial assessment.

The Scottish Government has put together a FAQs page which you can read here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/free-personal-nursing-care-qa/

Legal and Money Matters

Information on managing debt, claiming benefits and managing someone else's financial affairs.

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