LAs changing their charging policies

[marie66]

Hi guys,
I'm a bit concerned as we've received a letter from social services this morning!

It states ' I have asked L.A. Social services to represent me in connection with a financial assessment and benefit check. This includes the processing of any applicationd, revision and appeals on my behalf.'
'I authorise the DWP to supply them with info about my claim.'

Another nugget...

'This will enable us to check with DWP if you are in receipt of the correct benefits and to calculate the appropriate charges for care packages.

I'm not happy with relinquishing so much control of our affairs.
We have 10 days to sign and return.

Anyone else had anything similar?
Thanks,
Marie x

[ellcee]

Hi

Yes, I was asked to sign a form(on my son's behalf) when they came to do a financial assessment so they could work out charges for community care. It sounds like the same or a similar form.

The lady who came stressed that signing it was optional but I did sign it, though with understandable worries. She said that I could revoke the permission at any time and the form states that "I understand that I may withdraw my consent to the disclosure of such information at any time by writing to: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, The Pension Service, PO Box 376, Stockport, SK1 3WZ".

Shortly afterwards, I had a meeting with a solicitor about community care issues and I asked him if I'd done the right thing. He seemed to think it was OK. I hope it doesn't come back to bite me!

If you do decide to sign it, make sure that you take a copy so that you know what you've signed. Also, without my copy, I would not know where to write to withdraw my consent if I need to.

ellcee

[Lazydaisy]

no, I would not sign such a form on behalf of my son.
I signed his annual review assessment each year, no problems. Then Social Services went to our GP, CHANGED our son's medical needs on his PRIVATE NHS notes without our knowledge,and if I had not been informed of it by the private care agency who also support our son(and were not happy to do things without the knowledge of families),then the decisions could have led to the death of our son.It took me over a year to get the incorrect information removed,(and they only did that because I could prove that someone in Social Services had lied),and Social Services had only been able to gain contact with our GP because of my signature allowing them to access all "relevant information".I will only sign now, if I am allowed to add my own exclusions.
I would not trust them with financial freedom with regards to my son.

[dragonlady]

Have you asked them to review the benefits? If not tell them to take a running jump. If you are an appointee you can provide them with the info - social workers have no right to be invading your privacy in that way. As far as I am aware social services can only intervene in financial matters to determine funding when a person goes into long term residential care. I just fill a form in detailing my caree's benefits and am smart enough to check them myself. Sometimes Social workers get a bit above themselves - like LazyD I had one sticking her nose in my sister's medical affairs with potentially dangerous consequences. Social workers have no guardianship rights of control over an adult's affairs except where a court order has been made. Under the Adult Support and Protection Act Scotland social services can examine the financial circumstanes of adults with incapacity but again only with a court order and following strict guidelines.

[marie66]

Thanks for the information guys.

Have you asked them to review the benefits?

No, we didn't ask them anything - this letter came out of the blue!
Marie x

[Ann1941]

My daughter had a visit from the finance office of Oldham Council, they have a fair charging policy which my daughters contribution in January last year was £11.00p per week, this increased to £11.90p in the April then again to £12.60p in January this year. In April they increased it again to £14.55p. They told me it was because she had an increase in benefits. She has an In Control Package but the amount she recieves per hour is well below the amount she pays for care so I asked them to increase it. A man from the Finance came today, he said her contribution is going to be increased again to £15.?? as DWP inform them when disabled people get an increase in benefits but she hasn't had another increase and neither myself or my daughter having signed anything giving them authorisation for anything

[poppett]

I read about the dangers of signing this form recently, but can`t remember where. Tracey or Sian may remember as it would have been on a facebook group....Say no to PIP or Sparticus report.

Will have a hunt and see if I can find it.

Take care
Meg

[charles47]

Get clarity before signing, IF you're thinking about it. But my understanding is that the government is making it clear to local authorities that if they are going to charge people for services they should carry out a full benefits check to ensure they're getting everything.

But there should be no need to go as far as what is being suggested here. In my area they come out, do the assessment and if someone isn't getting what they should be entitled to, they help with the forms. End of.

[ladybird]

I am my daughter's appointee and I was twice contacted by someone at the Social Services financial section telling me..not asking me..that he was coming out to do an assessment of our daughter's finances. At the time we were embroiled in a battle to get ANY service from them at all so I told him he wasn't coming. He was a pushy little so and so but he didn't get very far.

Same chap tried it again 6 months later but as we were at the time going through a formal complaints procedure against our SW (pah..never even phoned us) and her line manager, told him again where he could go with his assessment forms.

After daughter left for residential, I was contacted again but by someone else this time, same dept. She was lovely, just asked for me to send her proof of benefits and she would work out the contribution. Fairly straightforward, caree pays all her ESA bar £22 something which is her personal allowance as set out by the government.

I would read and re-read anything that SS ask you to sign, if you are unsure tell them you need sometime to get advice and maybe conatct the Carers helpline or a local carers centre.

[bowlingbun]

My mum has periodic financial assessments from SSD, the man who came to see her (I have POA and was there too) was very professional. However, my son has SLD and I have appointeeship, I was "encouraged" to let SSD handle his financial affairs when I was also in the process of making formal complaints. Actually, it was more like being bullied. The SW tried to make out that I wasn't able to cope with doing things properly, when in fact I'm far more qualified in the area of finance than he is. I was even accused of having kept back £6,000 of my son's benefits because they didn't realise that he had to pay £90 per week towards his ILF care! My best friend is a senior member of staff for the DWP. They would always prefer family members to handle benefits than a large organisation.

[marie66]

Hi guys, I think this one is coming back to have another bite at us!
Now that the SDS budget has been agreed and approved!
It's stuck with finance as they try to work out what out contribution towards the care package will be!
We're on I.S. and like a lot of Carers have no savings left now! I'm hoping it won't be a large contribution they are looking for from us or it'll be really difficult for us to find!
Please God, this last bit goes smoothly and it's a fair, realistic and affordable amount they want from us!
(((hugs)))
Marie x

[ladybird]

Marie, I'm really sorry but I don't know your circumstances, could you give a brief rundown?

EDIT- Too late, you've gone offline!

[marie66]

Hi, wee update.

Things worked out ok - it was a fair level for our contribution after all - we will manage.

Marie x

[bowlingbun]

Great news.

[charles47]

I bet that's a relief, Marie.