To be eligible for financial assistance for the service, the person you are caring for has to have savings of less than £23,250 or the applicable capital limit for that Financial Year.  Although you are likely to be the person who arranges the care and pays the bills, the care assessment is based on the needs of the person you are caring for. 

How much you pay:

• If you are 18-24 you will be asked to pay £69.74 per week
• If you are 25-64 you will be asked to pay £76.31 per week
• If you are 65 or over you will be asked to pay £96.02 per week

How to pay:

• If you have a respite stay in a Wakefield Council Local Authority Home you will receive an invoice from the Payments and Income Team
• If you have a respite stay in an Independent Sector Home you will need to pay the home direct.
• If your respite is part of the carers grant or adult placement scheme you will receive an account from the payments and income team.
• If your respite is part of the direct payments scheme your payments will be made net of your weekly contribution.

What happens if the weekly contribution does not appear to take into account your usual income and expenses?

You can ask for a full financial assessment to be completed.  A Welfare Rights and Financial Assessment Advisor will assist you in completing a financial circumstances form detailing all your income and current expenses. However, different types of income and expenditure are not taken into account or allowed in the financial assessment so your weekly contribution may not necessarily be less than the current standard rate.

If you would like any more information about the scheme, please contact your Social Worker or Care Co-ordinator.

Other useful numbers:

Social Care Direct on 0845 850 3 503
Welfare Rights & Assessment
Helpline 01924 307317