Agenda item - Annual Review of Adult Social Care Charging Policy 2016

Report of the Executive Director for Adult Services (copy attached).

57.1    RESOLVED - That the Board agreed that with effect from 11 April 2016:

(i)            That the council continued with the current charging policies for residential care and non-residential care services which were compliant with the requirements of Section 17 of the Care Act 2014.

(ii)           To amend the charging policy to stop providing an income disregard for the night rate element of Attendance Allowance and DLA(care) for new service users.

(iii)         To continue with the current decision that no charges should apply to carers for any direct provision of care and support to them.

(iv)         The fee charged for setting up Deferred Payment Agreements

should be increased by 2% to £485 plus any additional costs for

property valuations.

(v)          The council continues to charge the maximum interest rate as set by the government for loans provided under the mandatory

Deferred Payment Scheme.

(vi)         That the table of charges as set out in the table in paragraph 3 be agreed.

57.1 The Board considered the report of the Head of Financial Assessments and Welfare Rights, Brighton & Hove City Council. The report sought approval of the Council’s charging policy for Adult Social Care, which was compliant with the Care Act 2014.

57.2 The Chair reminded the Board that there were no significant changes to the charging policy, with the exception for Carelink Plus which was being made simpler and would retain the no charging which applyied to for carers for the direct support given to them.

57.3    Council Mac Cafferty asked if a full equalities assessment had been conducted on how the changes may affect people, particularly those with multiple needs. The Head of Financial Assessments and Welfare Rights said that if the changes weren’t made there would be inequality as the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) did not have a night time rate unlike the Attendance Allowance for older people and DLA for working age did. This meant that some people would be eligible for night time allowance and some would not which would be unequitable. The Board was advised that the changes would only affect those who would be claiming from April 2016.

57.4    RESOLVED - That the Board agreed that with effect from 11 April 2016:

1.            That the council continued with the current charging policies for residential care and non-residential care services which were compliant with the requirements of Section 17 of the Care Act 2014;

2.            To amend the charging policy to stop providing an income disregard for the night rate element of Attendance Allowance and DLA(care) for new service users;

3.            To continue with the current decision that no charges should apply to carers for any direct provision of care and support to them;

4.            The fee charged for setting up Deferred Payment Agreements

should be increased by 2% to £485 plus any additional costs for

property valuations;

5.            The council continues to charge the maximum interest rate as set by the government for loans provided under the mandatory

Deferred Payment Scheme;

6.            That the table of charges as set out in the table in paragraph 3 be agreed.