Financial assessments
Following a care needs assessment, if you have eligible social care needs met by a service we provide, you will have a financial assessment. This will determine how much you will be charged and how much the council will contribute to the cost of the care.
Our charging policy covers how this works in Lincolnshire and follows the regulations laid out by the Care Act 2014. We are committed to ensuring that everyone is treated fairly, with an overarching principle that people should only pay what they can afford.
There are different rules about the financial support you can get from the council, depending on whether your care is at home or you move to a care home. Find out more about this in Paying for care at home and Paying for residential care.
In general, we will total your income and from this, take away allowances for day to day living, property and disability related expenditure. The final figure will be your contribution. For most people, the amount paid towards care will only be a contribution.
We have a user-friendly online form, which will give you an immediate indication of what you might need to pay. Our financial assessments team can offer help over the phone or arrange to visit you to help with the assessment.
What happens next?
After you have completed your financial assessment, we will send you a letter to confirm the amount you must pay, showing how this has been calculated. We may need to ask you for clarification or additional information.
We will review the amount you pay each year. If your financial circumstances change, you must let us know. We may need to complete a new financial assessment or review your benefits entitlement.
Payments
Community care
The start date for charging will be the same as the start date of the Care and Support Services. We will collect charges on a four weekly basis, unless you have opted for Direct Payments.
You will receive a statement which shows how much is due.
Residential care
The home will collect your charge on our behalf, on the first day of care. We are working to change the payment of your charge in 2023, to be direct to the council.
You may choose to take out a deferred payment agreement to pay your care home.