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Care Fees Set to Rise for Hartlepool Adults
27 Feb
Summary
- New fees for adult social care may start from April.
- Annual inflation increases will be applied to care charges.
- Fees introduced for managing benefits through appointeeship.
Adult social care charges in Hartlepool could increase if the council's proposed plans are approved. These new fees are slated to potentially come into effect starting April. The proposals, recommended for approval by council officers, are intended to offer a fair charging approach.
Three primary changes are suggested. Firstly, care charges will see an annual increase aligned with inflation, rather than solely at the time of a person's review. This aims to prevent large, sudden rises. Secondly, individuals receiving higher-rate attendance allowance or personal independence payment, but not requiring overnight care, may see their contributions increase as the overnight support portion is counted in financial assessments.
Furthermore, the council plans to introduce fees for its appointeeship service, which manages individuals' benefits. A set-up fee of £150 for new users and monthly fees of £55 for standard support and £85 for enhanced support are proposed. Officers noted the current free service consumes significant resources and demand is growing, with proposed costs comparable to major national providers.
