We work out what you can afford to pay towards your care based on the information you give us.
If you are unhappy with this assessment of what you can pay, you can appeal.
Or if you are unhappy with the way we handled your assessment, make a complaint.
Before you appeal
- Make sure you have had a final decision. We can only consider an appeal if you have had a final decision from us. If you are unsure if you have a final decision or not, contact us on 01305 228762 before you appeal.
- Speak with your Financial Assessment Officer. If you have a decision and are unhappy, first talk to your financial assessment officer. They will go over the decision with you and amend anything that is incorrect. If you are still unhappy, you can appeal.
- Check you are within 28 days of getting your final decision. We can only accept appeals up to 28 days after the date you got your final decision.
- Read our frequently asked questions. You will see examples of decisions on appeals that have already been made. The outcome of your appeal will likely be the same as cases like yours.
Make an appeal
If you are unhappy with a decision we’ve made, you can formally appeal.
You can appeal:
- the final outcome of our assessment of what you can afford to pay towards your care
- a decision about your property, capital assets, inclusion of income, gifts or disability related expenditure
What happens after you appeal
We will let you know we have got your appeal. You can expect us to respond within 20 working days from the date we told you we have got it.
A senior member of our team who was not involved in the assessment will investigate your appeal. They will be the person to write to you to let you know we have got your appeal.
As part of our investigation, we may need to contact you or somebody outside our team for more information, for example your social worker or your GP.
Once our investigation is complete, we will write to you either by email or post. We will let you know the outcome of our investigation, conclusion and the outcome of your appeal.
If you are unhappy with the outcome of your appeal
You can ask for a review of the appeal decision.
Ask for a review of the appeal decision by filling in our online form. Select ‘second appeal’ at the start.
What happens after you ask for a review of your appeal
We will let you know we have got your second appeal. You can expect to get a response within 20 working days from the date we let you know we got your appeal.
A senior member of our team who was not involved in the assessment will investigate your appeal. They will be the person to write to you to let you know we have got your appeal.
As part of our investigation, we may need to contact you or somebody outside our team for more information, for example your social worker or your GP.
Once our investigation is complete, we will write to you either by email or post. We will let you know the outcome of our investigation, conclusion and the outcome of your Step 2 Formal Appeal Review.
If you are unhappy with the outcome of the review
You can contact the Local Government Ombudsman to ask for an independent review of the decision.
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
PO Box 4771
Coventry
CV4 0EH
Advice line: 0300 061 0614 or 0845 602 1983
Ask for an independent review of a decision about what you pay for your care online.
Get answers to questions you may have
Why do I have to pay towards my care costs?
Social care (care not provided by the NHS) is not free. You can apply to your local authority for assistance with funding towards the cost of your care if you cannot meet the full cost yourself. The local authority will work out what you are able to pay with a financial assessment.
What is the guidance used to complete my Financial Assessment?
Financial assessments are completed in line with the Care Act Guidance 2014.
What are my responsibilities if I am representing somebody else?
You can find out more about what you have to do if you:
What are the rules on making gifts?
Check the rules about making gifts.
Who decides the amount I need to live on (the minimum income guarantee)?
Dorset Council adopts the Minimum Income Guarantee set by the Government to cover your living costs. From April 2022, the Minimum Income Guarantee will go up in line with inflation each year. Find out more about the Minimum Income Guarantee (Gov.uk).
What is disability-related expenditure?
Disability-related expenditure is an amount you are allowed to keep to cover expenses you have because of your disability.
These expenses should be detailed in your Care and Support plan. They will be considered if you have evidence, like receipts. Find out more about disability-related expenditure.
If I now have more income or capital, do I have to pay any extra for my care from the date of the changes?
Yes. If you do not tell us about a change in your circumstances, we will backdate any resulting changes to the date of the change.
This includes changes to your benefits, even if the only change was the name of the benefit and the amount remains unchanged. This is because different benefits may be treated differently in your financial assessment.
Why is Disability Living Allowance counted differently to Personal Independence Payment when I get the same amount?
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are different benefits and are treated differently in your assessment.
DLA pays an amount towards night care services and an amount for day care services. The amount you get for night care was not counted in your assessment.
But PIP does not include an amount paid for day and an amount paid for night care. So we count the total paid in your assessment.
Can you give me financial or legal advice?
No, we are unable to give you advice. You can get financial or legal advice or ask:
Who do I contact if I am unhappy with the care and support I’m getting?
If you are unhappy with your care and support, you should contact your Local Office.
Who do I contact if I have a query about an invoice?
If you have a query about an invoice or a payment plan, please contact the Credit Control team on 0300 330 1373.