Consultation on the Non-Residential Social Care Charging Policy
Start date: Monday 23rd June 2025
End date: Sunday 17th August 2025
What are we consulting on?
We would like to hear your views on a new policy for charging for non-residential adult social care services. This means that if you receive care and support arranged by the council, what you pay towards the cost of your care and support may change.
If you do contribute to the cost of your care, you are protected by a Minimum Income Guarantee, which varies depending on age and circumstances, but in the case of a single pensioner is £272.70 per week. We also disregard an additional 10 per cent of income over and above the Minimum Income Guarantee.
If you have savings below £14, 250, they are not counted when assessing your ability to pay for care.
Proposals
Proposal 1
Anyone who has more than £23,250 in savings or capital has to pay for their own care. We arrange care on their behalf when asked to do so but we do not charge a fee for setting up this care.
We propose: Introducing a set up charge of £200 and an annual arrangement fee of £150 for arranging care for anyone who has to pay for their own care because they have capital above the threshold, so it reflects the cost to the council.
Proposal 2
We do not currently charge on the basis of the actual costs to the council for arranging care and support services.
For example, we currently pay a home care fee rate of £21.50 per hour to the provider, but people’s assessed contribution is based on a capped rate of £10 per hour.
We propose: Removing the cap, so that care charges are based on what the council pays to care providers.
Proposal 3
When we calculate how much a person has to pay for their care, we assume they only have one carer at a time. However, we know that some people do need two or more carers at any one time to provide their care safely.
We propose: Charging a person for their care based on the actual cost of care and support, including where more than one carer is needed.
Proposal 4
Under specific circumstances, we have a duty to protect the moveable property (this can include personal belongings and pets) of people who are unable to make their own arrangements, and where they have nobody who is able and willing to make those arrangements on their behalf. Currently, we do not recover costs or apply a charge for storage where storage of personal items is arranged by the council, or where the council arranges temporary care of pets.
We propose: To recover reasonable costs from the person where storage of personal items or care for pets is arranged by the council under its statutory duties.
How to comment
You can comment on this consultation online or attend one of our face to face events listed below.
Events
We have arranged a number of events for different needs, so we can share information and gather feedback. Booking is required for all events.
Click on the venue you are interested in to book your place.
- People who may have needs associated with preparing for adulthood:
- People who may have needs associated with mental health:
- People who may have needs associated with a learning disability:
- If you are a carer:
- People who may have needs associated with dementia:
- If you use direct payments for your care and support:
- General Public events:
- Monday 21st July, 1pm to 3pm, Quaker Meeting House.
- Friday 25th July, 10am to 12pm, Communiversity, Alt Valley Trust.
- Wednesday 30th July, 10am to 12pm, Bridge Chapel
You can also request a paper copy of the consultation booklet and survey by emailing adultservicesconsultation2025@liverpool.gov.uk
What happens to my views?
Once the consultation closes, any comments received will be accessed by a restricted team of Liverpool City Council staff. The results will only be used to inform the council's Non-Residential Social Care Charging policy. A feedback report will be published on this site, which is expected to be in October 2025.
Responses will be summarised for inclusion in the report. Your comments may be included in the report, but this will be done anonymously.
The data from this consultation will be kept securely for a maximum of 12 months and then destroyed.
What happens next?
- October 2025: Liverpool City Councils cabinet will consider the proposals alongside feedback received from the consultation. The cabinet will decide on any changes to the current policy.
- November 2025: Implementation of changes begin subject to cabinet approval
Further information
If you have any questions about this consultation, please email adultservicesconsultation2025@liverpool.gov.uk
We have also put together the following FAQs to answer any questions you might have in relation to the proposals.
The services that you receive will not change. The amount you are charged towards the cost of your care may change from autumn 2025, following the outcome of this consultation.
If one (or more) of these proposals are agreed, it is expected that changes will come into effect from November 2025.
Before any changes are made, you will be informed about the outcome of this consultation, and which proposals were agreed. These will also be published on the council’s website.
Every person in receipt of non-residential adult social care services will be contacted in advance of changes being made.
It is important to remember the amount you are charged will depend on which of the proposals are agreed and on your individual circumstances.
Services provided to carers following a carer's assessment are provided free of charge.
The consultation will run from 23 June - 17 August 2025.
We will review all responses before making a final decision on the proposals set out.
The final decision will be shared on the council website.
A working group of colleagues from across the council, including representatives from Adult Social Care, the Adult Social Care Charging Team, and the Financial Inclusion Team reviewed the current policy. We compared Liverpool’s policy with other local authorities across our region and in other core cities.
All proposed changes have been considered according to national and local charging issues and legislation.
The financial impact on people using services has also been considered, as well as any projected changes in income for the council.
A public consultation programme for the proposals has been agreed by the council's Cabinet.