Welfare rights – benefits – advice and assessment

Welfare rights - benefits - advice and assessment

If your needs assessment shows us that you are eligible for Council Social Care services, your social worker will arrange for a Visiting Officer to come and work out how much you can afford to contribute towards the cost of your care. We call this a Financial Assessment.

By the end of the visit, the officer should be able to inform you how much you have to pay for your service(s). If you need to make a contribution, the officer will give you a contribution letter containing a breakdown of the charges you have to pay.

The amount you pay will be reviewed every April but you need to inform us of any changes in your circumstances that take place in the meantime.

Our charging policy booklets provides full details about our charges and how we work out what you have to pay:

Community Care Charges

Community Care Charges for People Living at Home -- Charging Policy 2008-2009

Charging for Residential and Nursing Home Care

Required information

• Proof of benefits and pensions
• Bank statements
• ISA, stocks and shares
• Capital and investments

Response time

Our Visiting Officer will normally visit you within 15 days of your referral to the Adult Social Care Service. 

The officer will help you to complete a Financial Assessment Form and claim any benefits that you may be entitled to but are not claiming. You can have a family member or friend with you to help explain things to you.