Requesting a Financial Assessment

1. Using this Procedure

This procedure should be used to understand when a financial assessment must be completed, how to subsequently make such a request and record the outcome.

Note: This procedure is used by all of the following teams and services:

  • Community Led Support;
  • Learning Disability;
  • Mental Health;
  • Community Response Hub; and
  • Reablement (ongoing needs only).

2. When a financial assessment must be completed

Under the Care Act a financial assessment must be completed when all of the following criteria apply:

  1. The person/carer has needs that are eligible under the Care Act;
  2. The person/carer wishes for the Local Authority to meet some or all of their eligible needs;
  3. The person/carer is ordinarily resident in the Local Authority area (or present in the area with no settled residence);
  4. The person/carer will be receiving a Local Authority service that is chargeable under the Care Act; and
  5. The Local Authority intends to charge for that service.
Need to know

It is not lawful under the Care Act to charge for any of the following services:

  1. Intermediate care and reablement services for up to 6 weeks;
  2. Aids and minor adaptations (up to the value of £1000);
  3. After-care services/support provided under section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

For all other services the Local Authority has the power to charge but there is no duty to, meaning that decisions can be made to waiver a charge or not charge in specific circumstances.

In exercising this power, Swindon Borough Council have decided not to charge for carers services, respite, pre-assessment, crisis support or any equipment.

3. Requesting a financial assessment

All financial assessments or reassessments should be requested in line with local processes and requirements.

Remember, a financial assessment should not be requested for carers services, respite, pre-assessment, crisis support or any equipment.

4. Recording the outcome of the financial assessment

Any contribution that the person is assessed to make must be clearly recorded:

  1. On the Care and Support Plan;
  2. On internal financial contribution recording systems.

The start date for any financial contributions should correspond with the start date for the associated Care and Support services unless a decision has been made otherwise through the financial assessment process.