Adult social care debt strategy
The adult social care debt strategy emphasises the duty of clients and their representatives to pay their social care charges promptly, upon receipt of invoice. Timely debt collection is crucial to the council in being able to fund the delivery of key services for it's residents. The strategy should be read in conjunction with the Hillingdon council's ASC Charging Policy.
In England, adult social care is currently means-tested and, unlike the NHS, is not free for everyone, with contributions to care dependent on the level of support being provided to the person and their financial situation. This means that most care and support will be subject to a charge, but you will only be asked to pay what you can afford, this will be done by a fair and transparent financial assessment process.
The Care Act 2014 introduces a modern legal framework for the recovery of any debts that may have accrued because of a local authority meeting a person's eligible care and support needs.
The strategy outlines how Hillingdon Council collects any care charges it invoices you or a third party for following an assessment of your care and support needs. It demonstrates action that the council can legally take to pursue outstanding adult social care debts.
There are rules around whether a financial contribution needs to be made by you towards care and support provided to you whilst living in your own home, which is also known as non-residential care. There are also rules around the contribution you may need to make if you are living in a residential home or nursing home.
These rules follow central government policy designed to make sure that people over the age of 18 are charged in a fair and reasonable way. The policy does not apply to people under the age of 18 years. The rules are set out in the Hillingdon ASC Charging Policy.