Paying for long term residential services

If you choose a more expensive care setting than the maximum price that we will pay, you may be able to arrange to pay the top up yourself or ask another person to make a third party contribution (called a third party top-up).

To do this you or the person paying the top up must be willing and able to meet the additional cost and must enter into an agreement with us to meet that cost.

Find out the maximum price that we will pay

Using your own money

The general rule is that you cannot use your own money to fund a third party top-up. However there are exceptions to this if you own a property and:

• it is being disregarded for up to 12 weeks for financial assessment purposes
• have a Deferred Payment Agreement with us

We recommend that you seek independent financial and legal advice if you are considering a third party top-up.

When we would make up the difference in cost

In some circumstances, we will meet the difference between our usual price and the higher cost of a chosen care home. We would only do this if:

• you have particular needs which cannot be met in accommodation at our usual price
• market pressures mean that there are no homes in the area accepting residents at our usual price

How the arrangements work

If you choose to move to a care home where a third party top-up is required, the person who will make the third party top-up on your behalf must sign an agreement with us. By signing this agreement the third party is demonstrating that they are ‘able and willing’ to make these payments.

The third party agrees to pay the difference between the usual charge we pay for such residential care and the actual charge. The third party agrees to pay this amount every four weeks following receipt of an invoice from us. The preferred method of payment is by direct debit and this can be set up so that payments are made at four-weekly intervals direct to Cumberland Council.

If the care home prices increase

It is usual for the fees charged by care homes to increase each year. The usual price agreed by us is reviewed on an annual basis however there are no guarantees that we will increase their usual price for residential care or increase in line with fees charged by care homes.

By signing an agreement the third party acknowledges that the usual charge paid by us and the actual charge levied by the home may vary from time to time and they agree to pay the difference between the two charges for the duration of the customer’s stay at the home.

If the care home approaches the third party direct for a top-up

Where we are contracting with a care home they are not permitted to approach service users or any third party for any payments towards the costs of services provided.

If the third party is no longer able to pay the top-up

If the person making the third party top-up begins to have difficulty with the arrangement it is important that they contact their local Adult Social Care team as soon as possible.

If payments cannot be maintained this may result in the care home resident having to move to other accommodation subject to a full assessment of their care needs. Once contacted, Adult Social Care will arrange a review of your care and support needs and financial arrangements for ongoing support.

Where a third party fails to pay their top-up, we will pursue enforcement options to collect the amount owing.

Contact your local Adult Social Care team