When You Need More Help

How much will I have to pay for personal care and support costs in extra care housing or at home?

You will normally need to have a means tested financial assessment. Which will decide how much you need to pay towards your care and support. Using a national set of rules and our 'Contribution Policy for Non-Residential support'.

As financial arrangements are complex and often changes. It is difficult to tell what amount you will help towards the cost.

How can I get help with the amount of money I need to pay towards my personal care and support costs?

Hartlepool Borough Council can only help with the amount you need to pay. Give all your finance details to the Child and Adult Services Department.

If you want us to help fund towards your care and support. You must have a needs assessment. We will only fund your care if the assessment says you need the support.

After your needs assessment we will ask you to fill out a financial assessment. In this assessment we will ask you questions about your income, benefits and savings. Which will decide how much you need to pay towards your care and support.

We can also arrange for you to have a welfare benefits check. This to check if you are getting all entitled benefits.

If you choose not to share full financial information. You will need to pay for your care and support in full.

How much will I have to pay to live in a Care Home?

You will always need to pay something towards your care home placement. They work out the amount you will pay using the rules where you live.

As financial arrangements are complex and can change. Completing a financial assessment will help know the cost of care.

The Council decides a price which we think is reasonable to pay for residential or nursing care. This price depends on the type of care home you need.

If they assessed you as needing nursing care. The NHS will pay for the nursing care costs only. You will still need to pay towards the residential costs.

Some residential or nursing care homes charge more compared to the Council's reasonable cost. If you decide to go into a residential or nursing care home. A friend, relative or other person may have to pay the extra amount. This is often called a Third-Party Contribution or top-up fee. You cannot pay this amount from your own income.

How can I get help with the cost of residential or nursing care?

If you cannot afford to pay the full cost of your care. The Council can help with the cost of your residential or nursing care.

You will need to have a needs assessment for the Council to help. The needs assessment will let us know that you need residential or nursing care. From here we can help fund your care.

After your needs assessment we will ask you to complete a financial assessment. In this assessment we will ask you questions about income, state benefits and savings. This information can decide how much you need to pay towards your care.

If you have savings or investments of more than £23,250. Then you will not be able to get financial help with your costs from us. You will have to pay for your own residential or nursing care.

The financial assessment may include the value of your former home. 12 weeks following your admission into permanent residential or nursing care.

We should disregard the value of your former home if:

• Your spouse or partner live there, or

• Another relative who is either 60 years of age or receiving disability benefit. Or, live with you on a long-term basis before your move into residential care.

If you had a temporary stay at a care home. We will ignore the value of your home.

If we consider your property and have other capital assets of less than £23,250. We will assist you under a ‘deferred payment agreement’. This means we will pay towards your care on a loan basis. This money will need to be repaid when you sell your property later.

You will get a weekly amount for your own use. We call this a Personal Allowance.

Paying for you own residential or nursing care

If you plan to pay for your own residential or nursing care. Thinking that you may not be able to receive financial help. You can still still ask us for advice and a needs assessment.

If you choose to have a needs assessment. It will help decide what of care will best for you. As it can tell you about other ways of meetings your needs. We can help you if your savings or investments drop below £23,250. From this you are able to get help from the Council with the costs.

We will also be able to give you advice and guidance. As well as help you to deal with any concerns you might have.

We can also arrange a welfare benefits check. This will make sure you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to.

For a guide to help you understand more about the way care works, what you need to think about and how much you may have to pay click here.​​