North Ayrshire Council to charge for care services

PLANS to charge for essential social care and housing support services are to be introduced by North Ayrshire Council. The new charges – effective from next April – will apply to care at home, not personal care to the over 65s, day care, disability aids and equipment, as well as court reports.

Existing charges for community alarms, meals on wheels, intermediate care, resident care, fostering servings and use of sheltered housing guest accommodation, are to be reviewed.

The council reckon the new charges will bring in an extra £500,000 a year and help offset the massive £38.5m annual bill.

Under the new scheme, all users of the relevant services will be offered a free financial assessment by the council’s money matter team in order to ensure they are receiving the full benefits entitlement.

The assessment will also establish how much service users can afford to pay.

The plan guarantees that anyone on low income below set thresholds will be exempt from charges.

Certain benefits such as attendance allowance, disability living allowance care component and severe disability premium are paid to people in need of care and attention.

These are expressly intended to meet the cost of that care and will be taken into account when calculating payments.

In a report to the council executive this week, social work boss Bernadette Docherty said: “Given the significant financial challenges facing the council, it is necessary to broaden the base of charging to assist in the continued delivery of services.

She continued: “Our staff will be undertaking consultation with groups likely to be affected but I can assure them no-one below the guaranteed minimum income level will be expected to pay.”

All of Scotland’s 32 local authorities charge for some elements of social care and housing support services.

North Ayrshire introduced charges in 1998.