People will have to pay more for their community care under proposals by Derbyshire County Council.

Members of the cabinet will be asked to seek the public's view on three options being put forward when they meet on 15 June as the current policy is seen as unsustainable.

Councillor Natalie Hoy, DCC’s Cabinet Member for Adult Care, said: "We’re having to consider making difficult decisions about how to continue delivering high quality services while managing external pressures on our budget." 

She said the council were committed to supporting people to remain independent at home for longer but must ensure adult care support is fair and sustainable.

Cllr Hoy said: “With demand on our services rising, we are in a position where we have to consider consulting on changing our charging policy to make it fairer and ensure we can continue to support those who need us most.

"Please be assured that if Cabinet agrees to consult, no decisions would be made about any changes until we’d heard everyone’s views and taken them fully in to account."

Councillor Natalie Hoy, DCC's Cabinet Member for Adult Care

The report to be discussed says DCC spends £148 million a year on supporting people in the community and currently receives an income of £8.7 million.

The proposed changes it says would achieve fairness by bringing the community charging policy more closely in to line with the residential care charging policy and ensure adult care services remained sustainable as demand increases.

Those who have social care needs undergo a financial assessment to determine how much they should contribute depending on their level of capital.

Cabinet will be asked to consider consulting on the three options which all look to introduce the national capital limit of £23,250 from the current figure of £50,000 and introducing the national tariff income of £1 in every £250 for those with capital between £14,250 - £23,250.

The only difference between the options is what percentage of disposable income will be looked at when deciding what people contribute. For DCC it is currently 75 per cent and the three options put forward are 80 per cent, 90 per cent or 100 per cent. 

If Cabinet agrees with the proposals, a 12-week consultation would launch on Monday 3 July.

There are currently around 6,000 people in Derbyshire with eligible care needs who have undergone financial assessments to receive care and support in the community.

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