How to Fund Your Home Care Service in Herts 

IF you believe that you, or someone you know, requires extra help in their own home then there are a number of funding options to explore. The FIRST thing to do is to contact the Local Authority's Social Services Department and ask for a free assessment of your needs. For Hertfordshire the number is 01438 737400. 

The Local Authority can not help everyone directly and can only give priority to people whose safety, health, welfare or independence are considered to be at 'critical' or 'substantial' risk. However, the authority may consider your need to be 'moderate' or 'low' risk in which case you are still deemed to be in need of home care help. If the Local Authority assesses that you are in need for home care then financial assistance may be available depending on your personal financial state and circumstance. 

If you have more than £21,500 in savings, or have enough income to afford it, then you will probably pay the whole cost of the service. 

It may be that after being assessed by the Local Authority you will be considered as a 'critical' or 'substantial' risk and as such they will finance, arrange and provide you with a home care service. Should they consider you to be a 'moderate' or 'low' risk then they may provide you with information on funding and a list of home care providers for you to explore. 

Direct Payments 

Direct Payments is a funding source available for people to apply for, after being considered to be at a 'critical' or 'substantial' risk, as assessed by the Herts Local Authority. 

This is funding provided by the Local Authority for you to use to pay for your Home Care Service. Click http://www.hertsdirect.org for full details. 

Attendance Allowance 

This is also a great help for people who need help with their personal care. It is a tax free benefit that is not means tested. The rates are (at the time of writing); High £64.50 and Low £43.15. Apply online or request a form from http://www.direct.gov.uk or telephone the Benefit Enquiry Line; 0800 882200. 

Carer's Allowance 

This is a benefit paid to people who care for a person who is disabled. You may be entitled to Carer's Allowance even if you are not related to, or live with, the person you care for. This is not means tested. The rate for Carer's Allowance is (at the time of writing); £46.95. To apply you must be aged 16 years or older, not in full time education, spending at least 35 hours a week caring for the person who is disabled or ill. Further details can be found here http://www.askcab.co.uk. 

Disability Living Allowance 

Disability Living Allowance is not means tested and is a tax free benefit for adults and children who need extra help with home and personal care or have difficulty with mobility. The rate for Disability Living Allowance is (at the time of writing); High £64.50, Middle £43.15 , Low £17.10. It also has a Mobility component with is; High £45.00, Low £17.10. You can claim online from http://www.direct.gov.uk. Packs are also available from your local Jobcentre Plus office or local social security office. 

Independent Living Fund 

The Independent Living (1993) Fund is designed to help you, if you are disabled, to live independently at home instead of being in residential care. You can use the payments to employ a care service to give you personal and domestic care in your own home. The maximum payment is £455 per week. You can ask your local authority social services department for an Independent Living Fund application form. Or you can download an application form from http://www.direct.gov.uk.  

Paying Yourself 

We strongly recommended you try to get funding before deciding to pay by yourself. Here are some useful links for further help and advice; 

Hertfordshire County Council 01438 737400 

http://www.careaware.co.uk/ 

Benefits Enquiry Line on 0800 882200 

Citizens Advice Bureau  

Ask CAB 

This information is provided by Caremark (Welwyn & Hatfield). 

- the mark of excellent care - 

Please note; this page is prepared by Caremark (Welwyn & Hatfield) in good faith. We strongly advise you to get professional advice before acting on the content we provide. We cannot accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions in this document or for circumstances that may arise after following the advice offered here 

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