FAIRER CHARGING SCHEME

Derby City Council has begun a consultation process which could leave some older and disabled people paying more for help they receive in the home. The council is writing to 3,800 people who currently use its home care service to explain what the proposals being considered under the Fairer Charging Scheme would mean for them. The Government has told the council to change the way it charges for services such as home care, laundry and shopping, and to consult on the changes with the people who use those services. Because the proposed charging options are based on people's ability to pay, the council believes that more people will receive a free service but those who do pay are likely to be charged more than at present.

Two proposals include an hourly charge of £4.50 (based on the minimum wage), with a maximum weekly charge of £31.50, or an hourly rate of £8 with a maximum weekly charge of £35, which the council believes is necessary to maintain the current level of service. At the moment, a person receiving 20 hours of help a week pays £13.30. Under the proposals, if they are assessed as being eligible to pay, their contributions would be capped at £31.50, although 20 hours at £4.50 an hour should be £90; or at £35, although 20 hours at £8 an hour should be £160. The criteria for someone having to pay would be if their income was at income support level plus 25 per cent. Savings would also affect whether or not they would have to pay.

Councillor Roy Webb, the city council's cabinet member for social care, said, "The Government-imposed Fairer Charging Scheme means that, if we want to maintain the current levels of home care services, charges must be increased as no extra money has been made available by the Government for this scheme." Harold Cox, chairman of Southern Derbyshire Pensioners' Association, said that he felt that the scheme was at odds with other Government policies to encourage people to save money and invest in pension schemes ready for when they retire.

He said, "We feel that all health services should be free of charge. It could be worse but I feel that it won't encourage people to make provision for their old age if they use the policy that, if you've got money, you pay for it and, if you haven't, you don't." Councillor Webb added, "Firstly, it is not the city council which wants to introduce these changes to our home care charges, it is a Government initiative. We have no choice but to bring it in without any extra funding." He then added to the confusion by saying, "It has been left to the council to decide, after consultation, how much to charge, how to treat capital and whether to charge at all. These are the issues we are consulting about."

So is it up to the council to decide whether to charge, or not?

The council is replacing its current provider of day care for severely disabled people, the Leonard Cheshire Foundation, with the Winged Fellowship Trust (WFT). The new contract would cost the council nearly five times as much as it currently pays for day care at the Rycote Centre in Parker Street, and more than twice as much as is currently paid for short breaks at respite centres.

Councillor Chris Williamson, leader of Derby City Council's Labour opposition group, said, "As a council, we have a duty to secure value for money, we're talking about public money. I'm not saying we shouldn't be providing high-quality services for vulnerable people in this city. But it's no good saying that, because we're dealing with vulnerable people, we can't put the costs of such services under scrutiny."

The cost for the day care service would be £150 per person per day, compared with about £30 currently. The respite care cost would increase from £369 per week to £759. Councillor Evonne Berry, the cabinet member responsible for social care, said that the costs of the new and old services could not be compared. "This is not a like-for-like service," she said. "The commission apparently did not listen to the information they were given. This is a personalised service, not a general service."

I have just been approved and given monies under the Direct Payment Scheme to buy in my own care. This is great cause you can have carers come when you want them, and gives greater control over your life. Which being disabled you do not often get. I was told I would pay £11 + max every week toward the costs. I thought this quite fair. Now I get a letter stating I am having a financial review, and from the 6th Dec the charges for those on certain disability benefits are going up to £31 + per week. Now in the real world people budget like I do, and may have financial responsibilities as a result. So what bill of any able bodied persons would go up just under 200% overnight. I have only just started getting Direct Payments.

I pay 7 weeks under the old system and from 6th December the new amount (which from the web page info of the city council, I will pay). Does Derby City Council have any action on poverty? Well if it does could they act someplace else and not near the elderly or disabled. And for calling it Fairer Charging how can it be fair a 200% increase. I will not be continuing with the scheme if I am charged at full rate. Which the council wants. So when I am unable to get dressed and out of bed half the week I will of course, with fondness look back to the days when I was clean and food came at regular intervals. Or I could send my mobility scooter back to Derby Mobility. Well, if your in a wheelchair its not like you can run from a Bailiff, is it? Ah well, the freedom was nice while it lasted. Anon