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New online tool will offer a flexible way to complete adult social care financial assessments
Published
The Online Financial Calculator and new Online Financial Assessment can support young people and their families as they transition to adulthood on their 18th birthday.
There are some big changes to financial support as a young person turns 18. If the young person is open to Children’s Social Care (including the Disabled Children and Young People’s Service) the case will transfer across to the Transition Team when the young person turns 18. The adult care and support package starts on the young person’s 18 birthday, considering the young person’s strengths, abilities and wishes and this is reviewed after six weeks and annually thereafter
We have introduced a new online tool for individuals and their families to submit their financial assessment information without the need for an in-person visit.
The financial assessment is a national means test which we use to determine how much an individual must pay towards any care and support arranged or provided by the council, whether they receive care at home, in the community, or in a care home.
The council has consistently offered a free, confidential and easy to use online financial calculator for individuals, their family and carers to estimate this figure at any time. It asks people to enter details of their income, savings, assets, and essential costs, and then provides an estimation of the amount that they might be asked to pay towards their care. This can help individuals and their loved ones to plan and make informed choices about their care.
On the 4th November 2024, we added the facility to go one step further and enable people to submit this information to the Financial Assessment and Benefits (FAB) team directly if they require a financial assessment following their care needs assessment. Supporting financial information (for example bank statements and bills) will need to be provided and an officer will complete a full financial assessment using the information supplied online during normal working hours.
This will give individuals and their families more flexibility and choice over when they complete the assessment, as it can be done at a time which suits them. This means assessments will no longer be restricted to an in-person visit during weekdays, which can be difficult for family members or carers who are working 9 till 5 or do not live locally. If individuals are unable to use the online tool, in-person or telephone appointments will still be an option for those who need them.
Reducing the manual paperwork and travel currently involved in each assessment will also help to reduce the council’s carbon footprint, as well as increasing efficiency of processing referrals.
You can find more information about the Online Financial Assessment on our website.