Appendix D: Disability Related Expenditure

Transcription

1 Appendix D: Disability Related Expenditure This is an allowance that may be made in your financial assessment for additional expenses you have (if any) due to a disability or medical condition The council has developed a guide list below of items of disability related expenditure (based around the items listed within the Statutory Guidance provided by the Department of Health). The guide list provides details of reasonable costs that are used when working out DRE allowances in your financial assessment. Some of the items have amounts, some have standard amounts. If you have one or more Disability-Related Expenses shown within the DRE listed amounts, the expense allowed in your financial assessment will usually be the actual amount you spend up to the amount indicated for each item or service in the DRE guide list. Occasional large items of expenditure will be averaged out over one or more years. The following represents a guide: Level of Expenditure Up to 100 Between 100 and 500 Over 500 Averaged over following period 52 s 250 s 500 s We will also consider situations where there are exceptions to the DRE guide list and a higher allowance may be considered. Exclusions A DRE allowance will NOT be made for the following expenditure: General items or services required for daily living, which would be used by the general population; Any item or service met by a payment from a Grant (e.g. Disability Facilities Grant) or where another funding source has been provided; The difference between the actual cost and the lower cost alternative where we consider it was reasonable for a lower cost alternative; Where a particular item of expenditure combines more than one item or service but only partly meets your specific needs due to disability or medical condition, we will consider only those parts of the expense that are meeting the specific need for disability or medical condition. For example, if you paid a hairdresser, the hair washing costs will be considered if you could not do this task yourself, however, hair cutting costs would not

2 be allowed, as this is a service used by the general population and is not a disability related expense. Sharing costs If you share a household with other adults, and the additional disability-related expense item relates to a service that supports the household as a whole, the amount of that expense item that is allowed for in your financial assessment will be on the basis that the costs are shared evenly by the number of adults in the household - unless we have information to show that a different way of sharing costs should be considered. Verification of expenses The DRE guide list shows what sort of evidence you should keep when claiming allowances for different disability-related items or services. For most items, you will be expected to keep receipts as proof of purchase, or bills for services such as utilities (e.g. water meter, gas, electricity). of actual expenditure will be requested. Where receipts have not been kept, the council may request that this be done for future expenditure. It is also legitimate for the council to verify that items claimed for have actually been purchased, particularly for unusual items or large expenditure. If you are unable to produce receipts for items of DRE you wish to claim for as an allowance in your financial assessment, we will use our discretion to determine the reasonableness of the expenditure Excessive fuel costs. Fuel includes, coal, wood, gas, electric, oil, paraffin, solar heating All fuel Occupants and property type 1 person in flat/ terrace 2 people in flat terrace 1 person in semi-detached 2 people n semi-detached 1 person in detached 2 people in detached Standard costs (Week) Source: NAFAO guideline figures 2016/17 Last 4 bills for all types of fuel. The minimum income guarantee allows for day to day utility costs such as paying for gas/electricity and other fuels to heat your home. If these costs are higher than higher due to high usage because you have a disability or medical condition, we can allow for any expenses above the standard costs shown above.

3 Winter Fuel and Cold Weather Payments are not taken into account. Allowable expenditure will be reduced by any concessionary fuel or other allowance. If bills or receipts are not retained, copies will need to be provided within 28 days. If they are not provided within this timescale, the allowance will apply from the date that the evidence is supplied. Metered Water: Excess Costs Standard Cost (Year) Metered Water 1 person living in a property *add 108 for each additional person Standard Cost (Week) Last 4 water bills. The minimum income guarantee allows for day to day costs such as paying your water rates. If you use a water meter and these costs are higher than average because you have a disability or medical condition, we can allow for any expenses above the standard costs shown above. Other Premises related Costs Domestic Help including cleaning materials for the household Garden Maintenance Community Alarm System Laundry/Washing Powder amount if no one else in the household can carry out the task amount if the service user is unable perform this task due to disability and no one else in the household is able to do so Actual cost unless included in Housing Benefit Standard amount covers own Actual cost for the household up to following : Urban: per Rural: per following : Urban: 5.78 per over 8 growing months Rural: 7.49 per over 8 growing months Actual cost 4 8 loads: 3.61 of costs incurred where privately arranged. Signed receipts for at least 4 s using a standard receipt book Invoices from Provider Care plan identified incontinence

4 Wear and tear on fixtures and fittings washing machine, laundrette or if laundry is carried out by a third party or carer, away from the service users premises. covers all loads above 4 Discretionary but must be caused by the direct consequence of disablement 9 12 loads: loads: 9.35 Actual cost problem, more than 4 loads Receipts or estimates for replacements. that it is not covered by a household insurance policy Privately arranged help e.g. cleaning or gardening carried out by immediate members of the family who live in the household, is generally not allowed. An exception can be made if there is evidence that the employee is not part of the household and can provide evidence of payment to the standard required Personal Care Hair Hygiene Chiropody Dietary. Allowance made where service user unable to wash own hair and is not provided as part of the care package. Washing and shampoo costs only. Actual costs up to amount Where paid privately. Actual costs up to amount. Discretionary as special dietary needs may not be more expensive than normal. Special dietary needs should be considered where they are likely to of 5 per of 4 per Actual cost above ly allowance up to of 5 for a single person Receipts covering at least a 4 period Receipts covering at least an 8 period Proof of medical condition

5 Bedding Incontinence Pads and other health aids Privately arranged care Clothing improve / maintain the service user s health. Additional food costs over ly allowable expenditure on food : single 35 /couple 60 per will be considered. Actual cost of Kylie Sheets, waterproof protector, anything related to incontinence not provided by the NHS Incontinence pads/health aids are usually provided free of charge by the NHS. Any additional expenditure will be considered depending upon individual circumstances. Actual cost if Care Manager confirms requirement as part of the Care Plan and Council supported care has been reduced accordingly The cost of special or additional clothing or shoes may be allowed where this has been shown to be necessary by a health professional e.g. occupational therapist or district nurse. Cost to be averaged over a 12 month period. An Actual Actual cost of 8 per Receipts of purchase Presentation of receipts Signed receipts for at least 4 s using a standard receipt book Confirmation from Occupational Health or District Nurse

6 Prescription Charges indicative guide to clothing costs is shown in the notes below Allowance made for purchasing creams, e.g. E45. Deep Heat, preparation of pill box etc. Cost of an annual season ticket divided by 52 or actual cost of prescriptions, whichever is less For those not eligible for free prescriptions Clothing allowance is available with War Disablement Pension, which recognises extra wear and tear caused through incontinence and the use of an artificial limb. Specialist equipment Wheelchair or motorised scooter Powered Bed Turning Bed Powered reclining chair Stair Lift Hoist The allowance is based on the purchase costs averaged over 500 s (10 years) and covers insurance 3.75 manual powered of 4.20 of 7.27 of 3.30 of 5.88 of 2.88 of purchase. No allowance if equipment provided free of charge of purchase of purchase of purchase of purchase without DFG input of purchase without DFG input

7 Transport Transport(excluding social care transport provision included in your care and support plan Allowed on the basis that costs that are greater than those incurred by an able bodied person. If mobility component is awarded only costs above mobility component should be allowed. See note below Hospital - if in receipt of income support/guarantee credit, travel costs may be recoverable from the NHS. If service user travels by taxi, suggest they talk to Doctor/Consultant to arrange free hospital transport. No Allowance Presentation of receipts Maximum costs community wheels cost or taxi costs where no cheaper alternative is available, practicable or reasonable. Actual cost but with following guidelines Max per for carer Notes Leisure - costs to maintain social contacts, or fulfil recreational needs will be allowed where the costs incurred are greater than those incurred by an able bodied person. Actual costs

8 Mobility Allowance cannot be included in the normal financial assessment as an income but the statutory guidance states that transport costs should be allowed where necessitated by illness or disability, over and above the mobility component of DLA if in payment. Therefore no further transport costs are allowed if Mobility Allowance covers them Other costs incurred as a result of disability Any other costs incurred as a result of disability Notes Additional costs of holidays, costs of other treatments, e.g. osteopathy if need confirmed by medical practitioner Actual cost Presentation of receipts/ evidence of cost and medical report or care plan confirming need In assessing DRE, the additional costs for a partner or companion for the specialist holiday should be considered. This applies where costs exceed the average cost of a holiday because of the disability of the service user Allowance can be made for 1 holiday per year on the basis of 12 months following expenditure. This allowance will not continue beyond this period unless a further holiday is taken.