What Benefits?

Kent County Council have a useful website that gives details of current benefit rates as well as advise on the kind of contributions and support

 

If you need help claiming benefits

List of useful sites that can help with claiming benefits

 

For the care home only...

Details of who qualifies for community care support

All councils decide their own criteria of who qualifies for funding for residential care and therefore the link below is for Kent County Council. Community Care and who qualifies

 

Although not stated, in most situations, people who are under S117 Mental Health Act 1983 are not required to make a contribution towards the cost of their care.

 

For the Culverdale (Supported Accommodation) only...

Assuming that other residency criteria are met Supporting People funding is eligible to those people who are in receipt of Housing Benefit but unlike Housing Benefit, it is not means tested. So, as long as someone receives the minimum award of £0.50 a week, they will be eligible for full funding.

 

For the Bethel & Culverdale only...

Housing Benefit is a means tested benefit and in principle, if you are in receipt of Income Support, you will receive the maximum award. For every £1 you are above the income limits (i.e. the maximum award you would be eligible for Income Support) you lose £0.65 from your benefit. For example if you receive Incapacity Benefit normally about £13.00 more than Income Support, you would lose about £8.50 from your Housing Benefit.

If you have capital (i.e. savings, bank account balances, Premium Bonds etc.) of between £6,000 & £16,000 you will lose an additional amount from your Housing Benefit. If you have capital above £16,000 you will receive no Housing Benefit (and no Supporting People if you live in Culverdale) and therefore will have to fund your own accommodation.

 

Other benefits such as Disability Living Allowance or Tax Credits affect your benefit (sometimes allowing you to keep more money), so it is important that you are clear as to what you have/receive and make this known as soon as possible.