Changes to adult social care contributions policy set to be approved
Adult Social Care services are paid for by the county council with contributions from the individuals it supports. People can be charged for their care and asked to contribute in line with their financial circumstances.
The council wants to make sure its fairer contributions policy is clear, accessible, and fair, to support individuals with choice and control over their care. Earlier this year, it held a public consultation to ask residents’ opinions on potential ways the policy could be changed, to help understand what would have the most positive impact for people with care and support needs, and how the policy could be fairer for everyone.
At its meeting on Wednesday 4 December, council’s cabinet is being asked to approve changes with effect from April 2025, which may allow some people to keep more of their income. They are:
· increasing the Minimum Income Guarantee for everyone with care and support needs by £5, and
· disregarding the difference between higher rate and standard rate of the daily living element of Personal Independence Payments
when assessing how much someone with care and support needs should pay towards their care.
Cabinet will also be asked to approve an option to introduce an administration fee at some point in the future, for people who pay the full cost of their care but ask the council to arrange care and support services on their behalf.
All proposed changes are subject to the revised Fairer Contributions Policy receiving the necessary funding when the council’s 2025-2026 budget is set by full council in February 2025.
Cllr Carole Allaway-Martin, cabinet member for adult social care at Gloucestershire County Council said: “We want to make sure that the Fairer Contributions Policy is clear, accessible, and fair, to support individuals with choice and control over their care, both now and in the future. We asked residents’ opinions on which ways would be fairer and have the most positive impact for people with care and support needs.
“Increasing the Minimum Income Guarantee for everyone received the most support, along with changing how Personal Independence Payments are considered. If these changes are approved by cabinet and funding is agreed in the budget, some people will be able to keep more of their income.”