Do I need to pay?
Once you’ve had a care assessment and are receiving community care services, you may be asked to contribute towards the cost of your non-residential care.
Whether or not you need to contribute depends on your financial circumstances and we will carry out a financial assessment to find out more.
Transport charges
If you attend a day service and use council transport, you will be charged a flat rate fee of £3 per day, up to a maximum of £10 per week. Transport charges are not financially assessed.
Financial assessment
A member of the Benefits Maximisation Service will visit you and talk to you about your finances and make sure that you are receiving all the benefits that you are entitled to.
When the assessment is complete, we will write to you to confirm how much your contribution will be, if anything. All information will remain confidential and is only used for the purpose of collecting your contribution. If your income is below a certain amount, we will not ask you to pay towards the cost of your care.
The council’s charging framework complies with the Government’s Fairer Charging Guidance which aims to provide a reasonable and fair charging framework for all service users.
What if I don’t want a financial assessment?
If you choose not to have a financial assessment you will be asked to pay the maximum charge for the services you receive.
How to pay for your care
You can set up a standing order at your bank or you can pay at the post office by cash or cheque. For post office payments we will give you a payment card with an account number so that your account will be credited each time you pay.
We will review your charges each year or if there are any changes to the benefits rate. You can also request a review of your charges at any time by contacting Careline.
What if I cannot pay?
If you are unwilling to pay, we will discuss this with you. To request a review of charges you can contact the Income and Assessment Team on 233 3051. However, persistent non-payment will result in us taking action to recover the debt. If you think your charges are unfair, you can appeal against them.
How to appeal
You can send your appeal in writing to: Income and Assessment Team, Municipal Buildings, Dale Street, L69 2DQ.
We will write to you to acknowledge your appeal and send details of the appeals procedure. You can also request a copy of the appeals procedure by calling 233 3051 or email fairercharging@liverpool.gov.uk.