Adult Social Care Charging

Update - July 2024

Thank you to everyone who took part in these consultations. The Consultation Reports and details of the decisions are now available from the Higher Level Disability Benefits and Self-Funding Arrangement Set up Fee webpages.

Original text:

Kent County Council (KCC) provides adult social care services to approximately 16,394 residents aged over 18 years old. Approximately 15,806 of these people receive chargeable social care services.

When people living in Kent need adult social care, as well as assessing their care needs, we also assess their income to decide how much they pay towards their care. Some people don’t pay anything, and the council picks up all of the cost, some people pay a contribution, and some people pay for all of their care (these people are known as self-funders).

KCC sets out what and how people need to pay in the Charging Policy for adult social care in a person’s own home or in the community. This policy does not impact on people who live in and receive care and support in a residential care home.

Why are we proposing changes to this policy?

KCC is facing a large increase in the cost of providing services and ever-increasing demand for services and needs to find ways to make these services sustainable.

Spending growth in 2024-25 is £184.5m as stated in the updated 2024-25 draft budget. The net change to the budget is £100m (matched by funding increases through government grants, council tax, etc), leaving £84.5m gap in funding. We are looking very closely across the whole council to close this gap through income, savings and use of reserves. One possibility is to make changes to the Adult Social Care Charging Policy.

What are these consultations about?

KCC is reviewing how much people may have to pay towards the chargeable care and support services that we provide or arrange at home (for example homecare including supported living) and in the community (for example daytime support).

We are consulting on two potential changes to our Adult Social Care Charging Policy:

  1. To stop disregarding the higher or enhanced rates of Attendance Allowance (AA), Personal Independent Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) when we calculate a person’s contribution towards the cost of their care and support.

  2. To introduce a new Self-Funding Arrangement Set up Fee for all new self-funders who would like KCC to negotiate, arrange and manage care and support services with care providers on their behalf.

How can you find out more and have your say?

Click on the images below for more information on both consultations, including details of:

  • The proposals, who could be impacted and how
  • Why we are proposing these changes
  • The current charging policy
  • How you can tell us your views.
Higher Level Disability Benefits
Self-Funding Arrangement Set up Fee
Man talking to a person in a wheelchair with buildings and beach huts in the backgroundTwo women talking


If you have questions about the proposals or need any support to take part in these consultations, you can contact KCC via the contact details under the 'Who's listening' section on this page. The email inbox and telephone number are monitored Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Update - July 2024

Thank you to everyone who took part in these consultations. The Consultation Reports and details of the decisions are now available from the Higher Level Disability Benefits and Self-Funding Arrangement Set up Fee webpages.

Original text:

Kent County Council (KCC) provides adult social care services to approximately 16,394 residents aged over 18 years old. Approximately 15,806 of these people receive chargeable social care services.

When people living in Kent need adult social care, as well as assessing their care needs, we also assess their income to decide how much they pay towards their care. Some people don’t pay anything, and the council picks up all of the cost, some people pay a contribution, and some people pay for all of their care (these people are known as self-funders).

KCC sets out what and how people need to pay in the Charging Policy for adult social care in a person’s own home or in the community. This policy does not impact on people who live in and receive care and support in a residential care home.

Why are we proposing changes to this policy?

KCC is facing a large increase in the cost of providing services and ever-increasing demand for services and needs to find ways to make these services sustainable.

Spending growth in 2024-25 is £184.5m as stated in the updated 2024-25 draft budget. The net change to the budget is £100m (matched by funding increases through government grants, council tax, etc), leaving £84.5m gap in funding. We are looking very closely across the whole council to close this gap through income, savings and use of reserves. One possibility is to make changes to the Adult Social Care Charging Policy.

What are these consultations about?

KCC is reviewing how much people may have to pay towards the chargeable care and support services that we provide or arrange at home (for example homecare including supported living) and in the community (for example daytime support).

We are consulting on two potential changes to our Adult Social Care Charging Policy:

  1. To stop disregarding the higher or enhanced rates of Attendance Allowance (AA), Personal Independent Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) when we calculate a person’s contribution towards the cost of their care and support.

  2. To introduce a new Self-Funding Arrangement Set up Fee for all new self-funders who would like KCC to negotiate, arrange and manage care and support services with care providers on their behalf.

How can you find out more and have your say?

Click on the images below for more information on both consultations, including details of:

  • The proposals, who could be impacted and how
  • Why we are proposing these changes
  • The current charging policy
  • How you can tell us your views.
Higher Level Disability Benefits
Self-Funding Arrangement Set up Fee
Man talking to a person in a wheelchair with buildings and beach huts in the backgroundTwo women talking


If you have questions about the proposals or need any support to take part in these consultations, you can contact KCC via the contact details under the 'Who's listening' section on this page. The email inbox and telephone number are monitored Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.