Higher Level Disability Benefits

Update 21 July 2024

After the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee on 15 May, and careful consideration of the consultation responses, the Cabinet Member took the difficult decision to go ahead with changing the charging policy for people who receive care and support in their own homes or in the community. This means that KCC will stop disregarding the higher or enhanced rates of Attendance Allowance, Personal Independent Payment and Disability Living Allowance when we calculate a person’s charge towards the cost of their care and support.

This decision was discussed at Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, 10 July.

The new charging policy will come into effect from 2 September 2024.

An Easy Read version of the update is now available in the 'Documents' section.

Update - May 2024

Thank you to everyone who took part in this consultation. The Consultation Report is now available in the Documents section on this page.

The report will be presented to the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee on 15 May 2024 for their consideration and recommendation. Following this meeting a decision is expected to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health. We will publish details of the decision on this webpage.

Original text:

Kent County Council (KCC) is proposing 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.

This would mean that individuals in receipt of care who receive the higher rate of these benefits would have more income taken into account in their financial assessment which would mean the amount they pay towards their care could increase up to the full amount of higher rate benefit payment which is currently £33.65 per week.

This change would help us to:

  • Continue providing the best care and support to people in need
  • Be sustainable in the long term - bringing KCC social care charges in line with the government standards and those of other councils.

More information on the proposal including examples of how this change could affect the amount some people are charged can be found in the Consultation Document.

How will I know if this proposed change could affect me?

You would only be affected by this change if you are getting the higher or enhanced rates of AA and DLA and receive day and night care by or through KCC or receive higher rate PIP.

If you only receive the lower, middle or standard rates of these benefits, you would not be affected. This is because we already take these into account under the current charging policy.

However, if you start to receive the higher or enhanced rates of the stated benefits in the future, you could be affected by this change.

This change would be applicable for all existing and new people receiving care from KCC’s adult social care services in a person’s own home or in the community who have to financially contribute towards their care.

How to have your say

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

The Consultation Document provides information on:

  • Why we are proposing these changes
  • The current Charging Policy
  • The proposed change and some examples of how charging would be different
  • How we think people could be impacted by these changes.

Please complete the consultation questionnaire below to tell us your views.

If you cannot complete the online questionnaire a Word version is available to download from the Consultation documents section on this page. You can complete and return either by email or post.

This consultation closes at midnight on Sunday 7 April 2024.

The responses provided to this consultation are expected to be reported to Members at the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee in May 2024 and taken into consideration before a decision is taken by the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health.

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

Update 21 July 2024

After the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee on 15 May, and careful consideration of the consultation responses, the Cabinet Member took the difficult decision to go ahead with changing the charging policy for people who receive care and support in their own homes or in the community. This means that KCC will stop disregarding the higher or enhanced rates of Attendance Allowance, Personal Independent Payment and Disability Living Allowance when we calculate a person’s charge towards the cost of their care and support.

This decision was discussed at Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, 10 July.

The new charging policy will come into effect from 2 September 2024.

An Easy Read version of the update is now available in the 'Documents' section.

Update - May 2024

Thank you to everyone who took part in this consultation. The Consultation Report is now available in the Documents section on this page.

The report will be presented to the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee on 15 May 2024 for their consideration and recommendation. Following this meeting a decision is expected to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health. We will publish details of the decision on this webpage.

Original text:

Kent County Council (KCC) is proposing 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.

This would mean that individuals in receipt of care who receive the higher rate of these benefits would have more income taken into account in their financial assessment which would mean the amount they pay towards their care could increase up to the full amount of higher rate benefit payment which is currently £33.65 per week.

This change would help us to:

  • Continue providing the best care and support to people in need
  • Be sustainable in the long term - bringing KCC social care charges in line with the government standards and those of other councils.

More information on the proposal including examples of how this change could affect the amount some people are charged can be found in the Consultation Document.

How will I know if this proposed change could affect me?

You would only be affected by this change if you are getting the higher or enhanced rates of AA and DLA and receive day and night care by or through KCC or receive higher rate PIP.

If you only receive the lower, middle or standard rates of these benefits, you would not be affected. This is because we already take these into account under the current charging policy.

However, if you start to receive the higher or enhanced rates of the stated benefits in the future, you could be affected by this change.

This change would be applicable for all existing and new people receiving care from KCC’s adult social care services in a person’s own home or in the community who have to financially contribute towards their care.

How to have your say

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

The Consultation Document provides information on:

  • Why we are proposing these changes
  • The current Charging Policy
  • The proposed change and some examples of how charging would be different
  • How we think people could be impacted by these changes.

Please complete the consultation questionnaire below to tell us your views.

If you cannot complete the online questionnaire a Word version is available to download from the Consultation documents section on this page. You can complete and return either by email or post.

This consultation closes at midnight on Sunday 7 April 2024.

The responses provided to this consultation are expected to be reported to Members at the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee in May 2024 and taken into consideration before a decision is taken by the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health.

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

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Have your say

    We would like to hear your views on the proposed change to the Charging Policy for Adult Social Care provided in a person’s own home or in the community. 

    We recommend that you read the Consultation Document before answering the questions.