FAQ
How will I pay for Live-In Care
As long as independent living can be supported, it has many advantages over going into a care home or other institution. A number of financing options and state funded schemes are available to help you to live independently in your own home.
Kent SCP is not authorised to provide investment or other financial advice. We strongly recommend you obtain independent financial advice from your own independent financial advisor or from an advisor registered with the Financial Services Authority. It is possible to find some very experienced IFAs through the UKHCA and on their website – www.ukhca.co.uk.
Examples of private care funding schemes include Equity Release and Annuity based schemes.
KentSCP does not sell funding schemes, however examples of well-known providers which are not high street banks include:
- St James’s Place www.sjp.co.uk
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State and Local Authority fundinG
You may be entitled to: Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, ‘Direct payments’, Disability Living Allowance, Independent Living Fund, Social Services support or NHS Continuing Healthcare. Funding is not always means tested.
Equity release Schemes
Safe Homes Income Plans (SHIP), these are worth explaining because they are subject to a voluntary code of conduct and the providers are becoming more competitive. Examples include “Lifetime Mortgages” and Reversion Plans (sale of one's house), Interest-Only Mortgages, Home Income Plans (mortgage used to buy an Annuity), Roll-Up Mortgages (the lender gives you a lump sum, you pay nothing and the interest is 'rolled up' into the loan) and Shared Appreciation Mortgages. Your Independent Financial Adviser should be contacted to tell you about which companies are part of this scheme.
Annuity schemes
A one-off payment to a plan provider gives a guaranteed income for life which meets the cost of the care. Short term loans, such as a simple bank loan may be able to help whilst longer term financial arrangements are put in place of if care is only needed for a brief time.
Direct Payments
Sometimes, if you have been assessed as needing help from Social Services, you maty be eligible to receive Direct Payments from your local council. This allows you to arrange and pay for your own care and support rather than receive care directly from Social Services.
If your council will contribute to the cost of residential care then you are entitled to use that same amount of money towards Live-in Care. Arrangements are currently being changed, but the amount of funding you receive will depend on your income and capital savings. If your capital is less than £14,000 then just your income is considered. If you have more than £23,000 in capital then you will have to pay the full cost of Live In Care.
• Capital includes: Bank or Building Society accounts, National Savings Certificates, Bonds, PEPs, Tessas, ISAs and Shares.
• Income includes: Retirement Pension, Pension Credit, Income Support, Private or Occupational pensions and any Annuities or Trust Funds.
If any of the above are jointly owned, only your share is taken into consideration. For more information on Direct Payments, contact your local Social Services department.
Kentscp cannot accept any liability for the accuracy of the information above or clients reliance on it.
Information for Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts
Kent Social Care Professionals was established in 2006 to su0p0ply care and support workers to other Care Providers and direct to people with care needs through its domiciliary service. We are a leading supplier of agency staff and care workers in the South East We pride ourselves on the delivery of our service, ensuring that we carefully match the care worker with each client, we understand that it is a very personal experience for both people and continuity of care is also of the utmost importance.
KentSCP provides a rapid, personalised and responsive service to the public sector to provide best value solutions to problems such as hospital bed blocking, continuing health care clients who do not wish to move into residential care and the ever increasing demand for domiciliary care. struggle to provide appropriate, trained care staff in a timely fashion.
Assessments are carried out within 48 hours of a request being made, often within 24hrs
• We have consistent availability of appropriately skilled care workers willing and able to go into placement at short notice
• A rapid response team of care staff who support hospital discharge teams by providing short term live-in care enabling patients to leave hospital quicker and with the appropriate support – this service includes a care assessment carried out by a senior care worker which can help inform multi-disciplinary teams involved in the clients future care planning.
• Live In Care involving mainly night time duties or mainly day time duties, this can be short term or longer term
