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home care charges

Hi, I posted about this recently, but cant find it to update you.
They said we had to pay £83.20 a week, towards my care package.
I looked at their workings and found an error.....that brought the amount down to £57.22 a week. I`m trying to fight it, as for 8 years I`ve been charged nothing. It`s a hell of a jump from nil to £57.22!
I have to start paying it now, or there wont be enough money to pay my carers!
Nice!
They said we had to pay £83.20 a week, towards my care package.
I looked at their workings and found an error.....that brought the amount down to £57.22 a week. I`m trying to fight it, as for 8 years I`ve been charged nothing. It`s a hell of a jump from nil to £57.22!
I have to start paying it now, or there wont be enough money to pay my carers!
Nice!
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Scope
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Scope
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I wish you more luck than I have had and hope things improve.
TK
We are banging our heads against a brick wall. But it`s good to be able to vent here. I though, if my respite fund has caused me to pay the weekly charge, I would tell them not to pay me it. Did this and they say it makes no difference. So in effect I am paying almost £3k in charges, to get £2184. in respite payment. Cant rationalise with these guys.
No wonder you feel so aggrieved...me too!
Scope
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I asked why this has happened. He said it is also due to respite fund...???? I said I thought DLA cant be used for means testing. He said it can for care charges.
They said they should have been charging me before but made an error...???
Scope
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I am sorry hear that you are going through a rough time!
Unfortunately under the Care Act 2014 Local Authorities have to take into account the Daily Living component of PIP and the Care component of DLA when they carry out a financial assessment for care costs. The mobility component should be disregarded.
If they have not been doing this up to now then you can argue that this was an official error on their part, but I suspect they will take it into account going forward.
They have to take into account disability related expenditure but what counts under this seems to vary from area to area.
They also have to work out your minimum income, in much the same way as benefits calculations use an applicable amount that they say is the minimum you should be left with to live on, and they have to leave you with at least that amount.
Have you asked for a break down of your charges to check that everything is correct? Also, make sure that they are taking into account enough disability related expenditure eg. extra heating costs if you house bound, extra electric if you are washing more etc.
Scope
Yes, I now know about them taking DLA care component into action, but didnt before!
It was their error that has shocked us....it would have been a smaller charge than this sudden £57.22 a week.
We have been told they will take my hubby`s income rather than mine into consideration when they re-assess us in the not too far away future I hope.
I believe they have included things such as laundry, extra bedding and clothing needed.
xxxx
The financial assessment should only take your husband's income into account if you claim a shared benefit. Then they will count half of that benefit towards your assessment.
They can't look at his income rather than your's when they re-assess.
Sorry if I have misread your last post and this is not what you meant!
Scope