Adult Social Care Charging Policy

Update - 29 June 2023

Thank you to everyone who gave their views. The Consultation Report is now available in the Documents section on this page.

The findings of this consultation were discussed at the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee on 17 May 2023.

Following this meeting, the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health took the decision to proceed with KCC’s preferred option to extend the Savings Credit Disregard that currently covers people in care homes, to also cover people that receive care in their own home or the community, for people new to the service.

The new charging arrangement is expected to be implemented this Summer.


We are proposing to change our Adult Social Care Charging Policy relating to Savings Credit Disregard.

This could affect people that:

  • Are receiving care in their own home or in the community
  • Reached pension age before 6 April 2016 and receive Savings Credit above £5.90 (single people) and above £8.85 (one of a couple).

This change would not affect those who live in a residential care or nursing homes.

What is Savings Credit?

Savings Credit is a benefit given to those who have prepared for retirement by having some savings or qualifying income above a certain threshold. It's available to people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, so is slowly being phased out. It can amount to up to £14.48 per week if you're single.

What is the Savings Credit Disregard?

Savings Credit Disregard is an additional amount of income that KCC protects when calculating how much you need to pay towards the cost of your care. For those that receive it, this protects their Savings Credit benefit. Currently, for those people affected by this potential change, all Savings Credit is protected.

Why are we proposing to make a change?

KCC have received a challenge, that we are applying Savings Credit Disregard incorrectly. On review, we have discovered that the guidance we are following does not match with the legislation that we have to follow.

To follow the legislation, those receiving care in their own home or in the community should have the same Savings Credit Disregard applied as people in a care home. This is £5.90 for a single person or £8.85 for a couple.

This would mean that with less Savings Credit protected when calculating how much someone has to pay for their care, they would pay slightly more.

What is our preferred option?

We are proposing to extend the Savings Credit Disregard that currently covers people in care homes, to also cover people that receive care in their own home or the community, for people new to the service.

This means we would continue to charge less than the legislation states for the people we currently support.

How to get involved

We want to know what you think of the proposed change and how it could impact on you.

Full details of the proposals are in the consultation document. Please complete the consultation questionnaire to give us your views.

Views expressed in this consultation will be reported to County Councillors at the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee in May 2023 and taken into consideration before a decision is taken by the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health.

Update - 29 June 2023

Thank you to everyone who gave their views. The Consultation Report is now available in the Documents section on this page.

The findings of this consultation were discussed at the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee on 17 May 2023.

Following this meeting, the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health took the decision to proceed with KCC’s preferred option to extend the Savings Credit Disregard that currently covers people in care homes, to also cover people that receive care in their own home or the community, for people new to the service.

The new charging arrangement is expected to be implemented this Summer.


We are proposing to change our Adult Social Care Charging Policy relating to Savings Credit Disregard.

This could affect people that:

  • Are receiving care in their own home or in the community
  • Reached pension age before 6 April 2016 and receive Savings Credit above £5.90 (single people) and above £8.85 (one of a couple).

This change would not affect those who live in a residential care or nursing homes.

What is Savings Credit?

Savings Credit is a benefit given to those who have prepared for retirement by having some savings or qualifying income above a certain threshold. It's available to people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, so is slowly being phased out. It can amount to up to £14.48 per week if you're single.

What is the Savings Credit Disregard?

Savings Credit Disregard is an additional amount of income that KCC protects when calculating how much you need to pay towards the cost of your care. For those that receive it, this protects their Savings Credit benefit. Currently, for those people affected by this potential change, all Savings Credit is protected.

Why are we proposing to make a change?

KCC have received a challenge, that we are applying Savings Credit Disregard incorrectly. On review, we have discovered that the guidance we are following does not match with the legislation that we have to follow.

To follow the legislation, those receiving care in their own home or in the community should have the same Savings Credit Disregard applied as people in a care home. This is £5.90 for a single person or £8.85 for a couple.

This would mean that with less Savings Credit protected when calculating how much someone has to pay for their care, they would pay slightly more.

What is our preferred option?

We are proposing to extend the Savings Credit Disregard that currently covers people in care homes, to also cover people that receive care in their own home or the community, for people new to the service.

This means we would continue to charge less than the legislation states for the people we currently support.

How to get involved

We want to know what you think of the proposed change and how it could impact on you.

Full details of the proposals are in the consultation document. Please complete the consultation questionnaire to give us your views.

Views expressed in this consultation will be reported to County Councillors at the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee in May 2023 and taken into consideration before a decision is taken by the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health.

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Have your say

    We would like to hear your views on our proposal and have provided this questionnaire for you to give your feedback. 

    We recommend that you read the consultation document before answering the questions.