financial assessment for care costs - is it worth it?

Jenwren

Hi all

I'm currently completing a financial assesment for my care needs (non residential, in Nottinghamshire county council). I haven't sent in my form yet as when I got to filling in almost the last page, they did a rough calculation of much I may have to pay towards my care - I think it was a cap, but it really shocked me at over £90 per week.

Because I don't have savings, and rely on disability benefits for my income, I assumed (probably stupidly) I wouldn't have to pay too much towards my care. Maybe I filled out DRE wrong - as I'd never heard of them before I filled out the form, or somethign I don't know. I think they're assessed my DRE as pretty low despite me putting in that I need cleaners, gardeners, have high utility bills etc. What I also don't understand is given the amount of hours of care I've been allocated by my social worker (I'm still waiting for my care plan) - 7 hours, how am I facing a potential amost £400 per month bill for care costs?

I've been told I can have direct payments, I've got two PAs lined up that are going throuhg the checks but now I'm wondering if it's worth it.

I'm seriously beginning to wonder if it's better to just cancel my assessment and see if I can get PAs privately or something. I'm having to move soon into rented acocmodation and I have no clue how I'd manage rent, utilities and this care bill if it is this max cap.

Anyone who's gone through this, or knows someone who has, can you give some advice? Would it be better to try to find someone privately and not loose a large chuck of PIP etc or to keep going down the offical council route? What are the pros/cons of both? I just feel really scared and confused now about what I should do and thinking that I never should've started this whole process with social care at all.

Kimi87

I'm glad things have progressed since you last posted on the forum.

You mention losing a large chunk of PIP to pay your contribution - but if you went private you'd still have to pay money for your care from your benefit income.

Minimum wage is £12.21 per hour so bear that in mind when thinking about how much private PA's might cost fully funded by yourself.

PIP is itself paid to meet extra costs of being disabled so it's not unreasonable to spend that PIP on care.

Unfortunately being disabled is expensive and often the money doesn't stretch to cover everything, so choices have to be made.