April 2011 – March 2012
This page gives you information on the council’s charging policy and how we will complete your assessment.
The policy:
- Guarantees a minimum income, currently £171.69 per week after any charges have been made
- Takes into account any disability related expenditure you may have
- Takes into account any essential expenditure you may have such as rent or council tax
- Is directly linked to your level of service and your ability to pay
- Provides help with claiming state benefits and entitlements
- Does not affect meals on wheels or freezer meals
The financial assessment
We need to ask you about your income and your savings. We will contact you to make an appointment for a visiting officer to see you in your home. The officer will be from the Waltham Forest Joint Visiting Team, which is made up of employees of both Waltham Forest and The Pension Service.
When they arrive please ask to see their identity card before you let them in. If you are uncertain, please telephone us to confirm the appointment.
You may wish to have a relative, carer or advocate present. Please tell us if this is the case.
The officer will complete the assessment form and tell you about your assessed income and the likely weekly charge for services. The officer will need to see evidence of your income and savings. Please have wage slips, benefit and pension entitlement letters and savings books ready for the visit.
We want our charges to be fair. If you disagree with your charge you can request a review or appeal against your charge.
Please visit the how to request a review of your charge and how to appeal page for more information.
Your benefit check
The visiting officer has been trained to provide advice about your benefits. They will help you apply for any benefit to which you are entitled but not receiving. You may already have an adviser. We do not intend to replace them. Please tell us who they are.
The visiting officer may also be able to provide advice on a number of other entitlements and services available to the elderly or disabled such as heating grants, energy saving schemes and adaptations and also make introductions to local voluntary services such as Age Concern.
Disability related expenses and essential expenditure
Many people have extra costs related to their disability. We will add these costs to the minimum income of £165.75 before working out your charges. The visiting officer will ask you about any extra costs you may have. You will need to show evidence of these costs, for example receipts or bills. You may also have some essential expenditure such as rent, mortgage payments or council tax. We will need to see proof of payment.
What it costs us to provide the service
The costs shown below are either the cost to the council of providing the services listed or the subsidised cost. You may be asked to contribute toward this cost depending on your financial status. Please note that over 50% of service users are not required to make any payment.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Home Care / Dementia Support | £15.76 per hour |
| Independent shopping scheme | £9.10 per trip |
| Day Care | £37.58 per day |
| Service | Charge |
|---|---|
| Community Alarm | £4 per week |
| Meals on Wheels | £3.66 per meal |
| Freezer meals | £2.48 per meal |
| Meal in day centre | £3.66 |
| Breakfast / afternoon tea in day centre | £1.05 |
| Respite care per night age 25 and over | £15.45 |
| Respite care per night age 24 and under | £14.92 |
The charges shown above are the amounts you will be asked to pay if you use the service. You will not be financially assessed in respect of these.
Examples
We will calculate your charge. This may vary from week to week as your level of service varies. Below are two examples, based on a single person:
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Your assessed income | £225.00 |
| Less costs of disability | £35.00 |
| Total | £190.00 |
| Less guaranteed minimum income | £171.69 |
| Your chargeable income | £18.32 |
| Cost of services | £15.76 |
| Weekly charge | £15.76 |
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Your assessed income | £225.00 |
| Less costs of disability | £35.00 |
| Total | £190.00 |
| Less guaranteed minimum income | £171.69 |
| Your chargeable income | £18.32 |
| Cost of services | £63.04 |
| Weekly charge | £18.32 |
You will always be charged either the cost of services provided to you, or your chargeable income, whichever is lower.
If your savings and capital exceed £23,250 you will be charged the full cost of services up to a maximum of £233.50.
For more information
To download the 2011-2012 charging policy click here (200KB pdf document).
You may have a query about your benefit or your visit. Please telephone the Waltham Forest Joint Visiting Team on 0800 917 9149
If you have a query about an invoice we have sent you please telephone the Financial Assessment Unit on 020 8496 3000.
Alternatively you may wish to write to us at:
Financial Assessment Unit
Adult Social Care
London Borough of Waltham Forest
Silver Birch House
Uplands Business Park
Blackhorse Lane
Walthamstow E17 5SD
Tel 020 8496 3000
Complaints Manager
Adult Social Care Complaints Team
Adult and Community Services
Silver Birch House
Uplands Business Park
Blackhorse Lane
Walthamstow E17 5SD
(please note: this building is not open to visitors)
Tel 020 8496 3000 (ask for the Complaints Manager for Adult Social Care)
Fax 020 8496 3659
Minicom 020 8496 3010 (for deaf and hard of hearing users only)
Email adultservicescomplaints@walthamforest.gov.uk
