Issue - meetings

Mark Scarrott, Finance Manager (Neighbourhoods and Adult Services), presented, for information, Circular LAC(DH)(2013)2 – Charges for Residential Accommodation – Crag Update – which notified local authorities of inflationary increases to personal expenses allowance, capital limits and savings disregards which were used when carrying out financial assessments in order to calculate how much someone should pay towards their accommodation charges.

These were:-

Personal Expenses Allowance – Inflationary Increase

-          Increased from £23.50 to £23.90 per week as from 8^th April, 2013.  Applied to all Service users who were resident in a care home and received help from local authorities to meet the cost of the accommodation

Capital Limits – No Inflationary Increase

-          To remain unchanged at £14,250 (lower capital limit) and £23,250 (upper capital limit)

Savings Disregard – No Inflationary Increase

-          To remain unchanged at up to £5.75 per week for individual supported Service users and up to £8.60 per week for couples

Introduction of Earnings Disregard in the Financial Assessment for Residential Care – Policy Change – Minimal Impact

-          Introduced to encourage those in residential care to pursue employment opportunities if they were able to do so.  Also brought Resident Charging Policy into line with that for non-residential.  The frequency of occurrence was negligible, therefore, the potential impact was likely to be minimal

Guidance on the Treatment of Armed Forces Independence Payments in the Financial Assessment for Residential Care – Policy Alert – No Impact

-          Armed Forces Independence Payments to replace Disability Living Allowance for veterans (see Minute No. 37).

Resolved:-  That the report be noted.