Consultation starts on non-residential adult social care charging policy

Liverpool City Council has begun consultation over a proposed revised charging policy for non-residential adult social care.

It is the first time in at least three years that changes have been proposed, and the costs currently charged to people are not in line with the actual cost of their care.

Adult social care is one of the biggest areas of spend for the Council, with a budget of £242 million in the 2024/25 financial year, and there is growing demand in Liverpool, in line with national trends.
Charging for the services provided ensures that care and support can be sustainably funded, allowing the Council to continue delivering high-quality services to residents.

By asking those who can afford to contribute to the actual cost of their care, the Council can direct resources more effectively, ensuring that limited public funds are used where they are most needed. This approach helps to maintain a fair and equitable system, where individuals only pay what they can afford while also supporting the financial sustainability of the care services available to everyone who needs them.

The charges are subject to a financial assessment, which is carried out in accordance with regulations that are set nationally, and this means that people with care and support needs will not be asked to pay more than they can afford to.

Those that do contribute to the cost of their care are protected by a Minimum Income Guarantee, which varies depending upon age and circumstances, but in the case of a single pensioner is £272.70 per week. The council also disregards an additional 10 per cent of income over and above the Minimum Income Guarantee.

The proposals are:

• Introducing a set up charge and annual arrangement fee for anyone with savings or capital above the threshold of £23,250 who has to pay for the full cost of meeting their own care or support. It is proposed to introduce a set up charge of £200 and annual arrangement fee of £150.

• Charging on the basis of the actual cost to the Council for arranging care and support.

• Charging a person for their care based on the number of carers they have. Currently, the contribution is based on one carer, regardless of the actual number of carers required at any one time to provide care and support.

• Charging a person for the cost of storage of personal items and boarding pets where the Council arranges this for them under its statutory duties.

The proposals are for non-residential care services and do not relate to what the Council currently charges for residential care home or nursing care home placements.

Councillor Angela Coleman, Cabinet Member for adult social care, said: “We have not reviewed our charging policy for at least three years and as a result we have not kept pace with other local authorities. Regularly reviewing our policies is important, and is good practice.

“Adult social care is by far our biggest area of spending and accounts for a large proportion of our overall budget, so it is absolutely vital that we make sure our policies help us deliver a service that is sustainable at a time when we have a growing older population.

“Although some people with more complex needs may be affected by more than one of the proposals, nobody will be asked to pay more than they can afford to pay towards their care and support, and they will be protected by the nationally set minimum income guarantee.

“However, despite these protections, the Council recognises that these changes could have a significant impact on a number of individuals in receipt of care and support and, as part of the consultation, we will be having detailed discussions with individuals in receipt of care and support, and their families and carers, to understand more about the potential impacts.

“I would urge people who receive care, and their families, to take part in the consultation, and have their say.

“We will take into account the feedback we receive before making a final decision later this year.”

How to have your say

• An online consultation form and booking form to attend in-person consultation events can be found at https://liverpool.gov.uk/non-residentialchargingpolicyconsultation
• If you are in receipt of non-residential adult social care, look out for details of the consultation being sent to you by post.
• The consultation is open until Sunday 17 August.