Adult Social Care Contributions Policy 2024 - 1. Introduction and legal framework

This document sets out Walsall Council’s policy on how adults, who are eligible for social care and support and their carers, contribute towards the cost of these services. It is based on Government legislation and national statutory guidance, most notably the Care Act 2014 and Statutory Guidance that is underpinned by core principles to ensure it is fair, equitable, and based on the ability to pay. 

This policy applies to all adults who receive care and support services following an assessment of their care needs and individual financial circumstances. For this policy, an adult is any adult aged 18 and above.

Section 14 of the Care Act 2014 gives local authorities the power to charge an adult and carers in receipt of direct care and support. Section 17 of the Care Act 2014 permits local authorities to undertake an assessment of financial resources. The financial assessment will determine the levels of an adult’s financial resources and the amount that they are able to pay towards their care and support services. 

This policy will be applied consistently to all adults regardless of how they are receiving their services. Everyone will contribute towards the cost of their care depending upon their means, and as such all will be offered a financial assessment. 

No one will be charged more than it is reasonably practicable to pay dependent on the extent of their needs. The financial assessment will ask the adult/their representative about their finances and circumstances, and a calculation will be used to determine how much an adult is able to pay – this is known as the assessed contribution. 

This policy will be regularly reviewed, and any changes agreed by the Council will be reflected in an updated policy document. 

We will always consider a person’s individual circumstances to ensure fairness so that they are not unreasonably disadvantaged. 

We have set out the policy as simply as possible. Financial affairs can be complicated, but it is important that everyone can understand how the contribution they are asked to make has been arrived at, as this will support an adult’s ability to have greater control over their finances and ultimately, over how they live their lives.