Fair Fees for Self Funders

Kirklees Funding Assessments

Local authority funding towards care fees is means tested.  To be eligible for funding the person will have to complete a financial assessment which takes into account the person's savings and benefits:

• Over £23,250 - care fees must be paid in  full by the person (known as being self-funding).   
• Between £14,250 and £23,250 the person contributes  from income included in the means test, such as pensions, plus an  assumed, or ‘tariff’ income based on their capital between £14,250 and  £23,250. The council pay the remaining cost of their care.   
• Less than £14,250 and the person no longer pays a  ‘tariff’ income based on your capital, but they must continue paying  from income included in the means test. The council pay the remaining  cost of their care. 

Selling property to pay for care?

In some situations, the person's home won't be taken into account in the means test. There are a few circumstances where this applies:

If they need short-term or temporary care in a care home, their home won't be in the means test.

If their care home is permanent, it won't be counted if it's still occupied by:

• their partner or former partner, unless they are estranged from them
• their estranged or divorced partner if they are also a lone parent
• a relative who is aged 60 or over
• a relative who is disabled
• a child of yours aged under 18

If the person's property is going to be included in the permanent care home  means test, the council must ignore it for the first 12 weeks of your  care. This is to give you space to decide what to do with their property  and paying fees, for example whether to enter into a deferred payment  agreement with the council.  They will likely qualify for help with fees  from the council for the 12 week period if your other capital assets are  under £23,250.   Age UK, Paying for Care

NHS Continuing Care funding

If the person's needs are primarily health-based, the NHS arrange and pay for their care under NHS continuing healthcare (NHS CHC).  When  assessing their needs needs, the council must refer them for this funding if it  appears they may be eligible for NHS CHC.

If they do not meet the criteria for NHS CHC, but require nursing  care, the NHS pays a contribution towards the cost of the nursing care  directly to the nursing home. This is called NHS-funded nursing care  (NHS FNC). See Age UK, NHS Funding for more information.