Why is the County Council increasing home care charges?
The Council is increasing home care charges from £8.80 to £12 an hour with an increased maximum weekly charge from £78.50 to £120.
The County Council is facing major budget pressures, mainly due to the increasing number of older people and people with disabilities. As we have pledged not to increase Council Tax, the money for these extra pressures must be found elsewhere. We are consulting on a range of proposals from across the County Council’s services.
All service users will receive a letter detailing how they can give their views.
Why has the County Council chosen this level of increase?
The increase will bring Nottinghamshire more in line with other local councils as the national average weekly home care charge is £255.96.
Even those paying the proposed maximum charge will still have their care subsidised by the County Council, as the average cost of home care is £13.41 an hour.
People will be assessed on their ability to pay, with only those who can afford it paying the maximum cost. Those on the lowest incomes will still get their care for free.
I currently get my home care for free. Will I have to pay when the changes are made?
People will be assessed on their ability to pay, with only those who can afford it paying the maximum cost. Those on the lowest incomes will still get their care for free.
Why is a charge of £4 a day being introduced for day services?
People receiving social care services, such as home care or residential care, currently have to pay, so a review will bring day care in line with other services.
What will happen to those people who can’t afford day services?
The Council is increasing the cost of transport from £2.15 for a return journey to £4.
As with other social care services, people will be assessed on their ability to pay, with those on the lowest incomes likely to get their day services for free.
Even those paying £4 a day will still have their day services subsidised by the County Council, as it costs over £40 a day for an older person, over £70 a day for someone with learning disabilities and over £100 a day for someone with physical disabilities.
Why is the charge being increased during a recession?
The County Council is facing major budget pressures – mainly due to the increasing number of older people and people with disabilities. As we have pledged not to increase Council Tax, the money for these extra pressures must be found elsewhere.
