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Frequently asked questions -
community and residential care 
If there is a question that you have been puzzling over why not suggest a faq.
Q1. Do I have to pay community care charges?
Q2. How are residential care charges assessed?
Q3. How do I complain about an assessment or if I am charged for services?
Q5. Where can I find out more about enduring power of attorney?
Q6. Do I have any rights as a carer?
Q7. What are the independent living funds?
Q8. What if I am being discharged from hospital?
Q9. What is "supporting people"?
Whether you are required to pay for any care you receive depends on your income. To find out about local authority charging policies for community care services in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales see Factsheet F3 - charging for community care.
Once it has been agreed that you need to enter residential care the local authority will make an assessment to see how much you have to pay. To find out about local authority charging policies for residential care in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales see Factsheet F4 - charging for residential accommodation.
If you are not happy with an assessment decision, or a failure to make a decision there are a number of ways you can complain. For more information about these see Factsheet F6 - community and residential care - complaining about assessments or charges.
Direct payments allow a person who has been assessed as needing particular services to receive cash to arrange and pay for those services. For more information see Factsheet F5 - community care direct payments.
If you cannot manage your affairs or feel that this may be the case in the future you can choose someone to decide what is done with your financial affairs and property. This is known as giving them enduring power of attorney (EPA). The Office of the Public Guardian has a number of publications in various formats about all aspects of EPA.
From October 2007 lasting powers of attorney (LPAs) will replace the current enduring power of attorney (EPA) in relation to property and affairs. LPAs can also be empowered to make health and welfare decisions. For more information about this see our Mental Capacity Act 2005 web page.
The independent living funds provide financial help with your care package to help you remain in the community rather than enter residential care. For more information see Factsheet F54 - independent living fund.
If are being discharged from hospital and have community care needs the hospital must notify the relevant local authority. The local authority should then make an assessment in order to ensure that appropriate support is in place when you return home. For more information see our delayed discharge from hospital page.
The "Supporting People" programme was introduced on 1 April 2003. The programme aims to plan and manage housing related support services at a local level. Some support services previously supplied as part of housing benefit are now supplied under this programme. For more information see our supporting people and housing benefit page.
