Paying for your care

Every April we increase your benefits in line with increases provided by the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP). This new weekly charge is produced from the current data held on our system and your benefits and allowances will be updated in line with figures provided by the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP). If you would like a review of your assessed charge, you will need to complete a new financial assessment and provide supporting documentation. 

You can request a financial review at any time during the year and must inform the council of any material change to your financial circumstances. This could include:

• increase in benefits
• payment of private pension
• award of a disability benefits
• inheritance of assets (money and property)
• update of investments
• new expenses incurred

The change in circumstances process is begun by yourself. You are responsible for thoroughly completing a financial assessment form and providing evidence of any changes to your financial situation. 

Once the form and evidence are submitted, the financial assessment team will review the information and reassess your weekly charge if necessary. 

We will write to you to confirm the outcome of the reassessment and any new charge amount. 

Your responsibilities

• you shall begin the process by formally requesting a financial review from the financial assessment team
• you will need to complete the form in its entirety, ensuring all sections are filled accurately
• you will need to provide all evidence that substantiates the claim of altered financial circumstances. This may include, but is not limited to, variations in savings or investments, income changes, and changes in expenditures or disability-related expenses
• it is your responsibility to complete a fully completed form, accompanied by supporting evidence, to the financial assessment team in a timely manner.

Financial assessment team duties

• the financial assessment team will thorough review your submitted financial assessment against your existing financial assessment records
• the team will undertake a comprehensive reassessment based on the newly provided financial information
• should any amendments be required to the existing financial assessment, the team will reassess your weekly charge accordingly
• to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the reassessment, assessment officers will confirm details with DWP systems and council systems in their evaluation process
• you will be formally notified of the outcome of the reassessment by an official letter, which will include a detailed breakdown of the new weekly charge