Financial assessment

Depending on the amount of income, savings or assets you have, you may have to contribute towards some, or all, of the cost of your care and support. 

If you have capital or savings above the Upper Capital Limit (£23,250)

You will be required to pay the full costs of your care and support. However, if your capital is £28,000 or below, please contact us so we can discuss planning ahead.

Contact adult services - online form

If your care and support costs are less than your assessed maximum weekly contribution

You will be required to pay for the actual costs of your care. You will pay the actual cost of your care or your assessed maximum weekly contribution, whichever is lower. Should your care increase in the future, your contribution will increase up to your assessed maximum weekly contribution.

You will not be asked to pay any more than your assessed maximum weekly contribution.

Paying your own care costs (Self-funding)

If your assessment determines that you are required to pay the full cost of your care or you are self-funding, we can still support you in finding and arranging care. For more information see our webpage on Self-funding care and support.

Going into a care home if you own a property/properties

If you move into a care home permanently and you own a property, the value of your home is usually included in your financial assessment.

Your property will not be included in your assessment if it is lived in by:

• your partner or spouse
• a close relative aged 60 or over
• a close relative who is disabled
• a child under 18 you are responsible for

In these situations, the property is disregarded.

If you are moving into a care home permanently, the value of your home is also disregarded for the first 12 weeks.

This gives you time to decide what to do with the property.

If you prefer not to sell your home straight away, or cannot do so immediately, you may be able to apply for a Deferred Payment Agreement. Deferred Payment Agreement.

If you have more than one property, all properties other than your main home will be regarded as capital in the financial assessment.

However, you should always seek independent legal or financial advice before making a decision on how to use your capital assets.

When you won't need a financial assessment

If you receive a care service under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 a financial assessment is not needed, and you will not have to pay towards your care.

However, if only a part of your care and support is funded under Section 117, you will require a financial assessment and may have to pay towards any care and support that is not funded under Section 117.

If your care and support service is fully paid for by the NHS under NHS Continuing Healthcare (CPICS Website) you will not require a financial assessment.

If you are assessed as having an eligible care or support need by Cambridgeshire County Council, you will then need to have a means tested financial assessment. This is to calculate if you will be required to pay towards the costs of your care.

Step 1

A care package is agreed, based on what is needed to meet your eligible care and support needs. You will be invited by post or email to complete a Financial Assessment. 

Step 2

Your Financial Assessment is then completed by a member of Financial Assessment Team once you have completed and returned the Financial Assessment Questionnaire and required evidence.

We will write to you or email to advise you of the result of the Financial Assessment, telling you the amount you will need to contribute.

For further information see our Adult Social Care charging policy.

Step 3

The easiest and safest way to pay for your care is by monthly Direct Debit. You can set up a Direct Debit online or over the phone. Paying by Direct Debit will ensure you do not miss a payment which will mean you will owe the Council money. 

What we need from you

We will ask to see any documents you have which show your income and savings. These will include:

• completed and signed Financial Assessment Form 
• ​​bank / building society accounts – three months’ worth of bank statements for all accounts held prior to the date your care services started 
• ​​occupational / private pension (P60, bank statement, annual benefit statement) 
• ​​State Pension / Pension Credit / Attendance Allowance (AA)/ Disability Living Allowance (DLA) / Personal Independence Payment  (PIP) (letter from Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), bank statement) 
• ​​any other income 
• ​​housing costs (including rent, service charge and council tax breakdown) 
• ​​Disability Related Expenditure (receipts, invoices, bills, bank statements) disability-related expenses
• ​​Lasting Power of Attorney/ Court of Protection/ Appointeeship Trust Documents (if applicable) 

We will work out the most you will have to pay each week. After your assessment we will send you a letter to explain the result. Full details of how we work out how much you will pay are in the Adult Social Care Charging policy.

If you feel that your assessment is incorrect, you should first contact the Financial Assessment Team to ensure that all the details relating to your assessment are correct.

A financial assessment officer or manager who was not involved in the original assessment  will review the information. They will make sure your charges have been calculated correctly and in line with the law and the council’s charging policy. 

Telephone: 0300 126 3003

Financial Assessment Team
SCO2205
PO BOX 761
Huntingdon
PE29 9QR

If, after the review, you still feel your concern has not been resolved, you can make a complaint through the council’s statutory complaints process.

Complaints about financial assessments are handled under the Care and Support complaints procedure, which follows national regulations.