Kent County Council (KCC) is launching an 8-week consultation today asking for your views on proposed changes to how much people pay towards the chargeable services that the council provides for care at home (for example Homecare) and care in the community (for example Day Care).
Following a review of the council’s approach to the Savings Credit Disregard, the proposal is to extend the Savings Credit Disregard that currently covers people in care homes, to also apply to people who receive care in their own home or the community and are new to the service.
It aims to address the changes required by the clarified guidance released by the Department for Health and Social Care to bring the council’s charging policy into alignment with legislation to ensure we make the best use of funds to help everyone we support.
The preferred option will not affect those who already access these services.
KCC Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, Clair Bell said: “For some years we have taken a more generous approach to the Savings Credit Disregard than that outlined in legislation for charging for adult social care.
“We continue to strive to provide the best service possible for everyone we support but regrettably the council continues to be under extreme financial pressure. This proposal would bring this aspect of charging in line with current legislation and ensure the best use of the funds we receive to help all those we support.
“I would like to encourage everyone to consider the consultation document and give us your views on this proposal.”
Views expressed in this consultation will be reported to County Councillors at the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee in May 2023 and taken into consideration before a decision is taken by the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health.
A decision about the proposed change will only be taken once the consultation responses have been fully analysed to understand the impact and address any other suggestions put forward.
The consultation will be open for 8 weeks from 24 January 2023 to 21 March 2023.
Please let us know your thoughts by going to: www.kent.gov.uk/adultsocialcarecharging to complete the online questionnaire.
Alternatively, you can get a paper copy from: www.kent.gov.uk/adultsocialcarecharging or request it from the contact information below and post it back to us at this address before the closing date of Tuesday 21 March 2023.
Adult Social Care Charging Consultation
Kent County Council
Invicta House
Maidstone
ME14 1XX
Contact information – monitored Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
If you have questions about the proposed change, you can:
Email: adultsocialcarecharging@kent.gov.uk
Telephone: 03000 422 557
Alternative formats
This document and the consultation questionnaire are available in Easy Read and Large Print formats from the consultation webpage or on request. If you need this information in another format or language, please
Email: alternativeformats@kent.gov.uk
Telephone: 03000 421 553
Text relay: 18001 03000 421 553
This number goes to an answer machine which is monitored during office hours.
ENDS.
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