self-funding ?

[oddfish7]

My LA wants a payment of over £600 annually for 'admin' if we were to become self-funding for the services used by the LD person in my family. Is this reasonable ?

Would be interested to hear from anyone with experience of being self-funding for LD services. I'm guessing the admin burden outweighs any notional 'freedom'.

Thanks for all your helpful replies - it really helps to share .

[Eeviee]

hi. Everything I hear about direct payments seems to be that it is the wrong choice for someone needing a high degree of care. If you are in Herts try “supporting together” run by Chris. Or as previously advised bringing us together. Both have Facebook pages I think. As well as websites.

[FacingTheFuture in reply to Eeviee]

Hello, I can’t find the organisation you mention. Can you give more details please?

[TC65]

I’m guessing you mean using a direct payment rather than self -funding which would mean the person pays for all support from their own funds

I manage a direct payment for my son who has 24/7 support needs and do not have to pay any admin fees - I would question what on earth you are paying for I know from my sons DP it’s me doing all the admin !!

[oddfish7 in reply to TC65]

that's what I thought....thanks

[HolisticMum in reply to TC65]

I do all the Admin also for my sons just so that we save on buying in a Managed Account where we would still be classed as the Employer. I haven't heard great things about a company doing managed accounts, so feel I have no choice but to keep doing it myself. It was great for about the first decade but it's getting more complicated now when the Council wants a contribution and the goalposts have changed from when we first started. I am liking it less as it's making me more work and they have more guidelines on what we cannot spend the money on now. Also the finance team go by what the Social worker writes on the Support Plan. The times I have spoken to the SW and she's told me something would have to go to Panel. By what I've learned last week, I think she has done nothing to put my case forward. I am so angry and stressed.

[SpeedyH]

Hi there. You shouldn’t be paying an admin fee for a direct payment. If your LA is proposing that you use a management company to administer the direct payment, the cost for this should be added to the amount you get in the direct payment or the company should be commissioned directly by the LA. The law says that LAs are not allowed to add ‘strings’ like this to having a direct payment.

I wonder though, if the £600 you have been asked for is actually a contribution towards the cost of the actual care? Adult social care is not free and everyone receiving help is assessed by a means test to see how much they should contribute towards their care. Perhaps the £600 is your contribution to the care costs? In which case £600 is very reasonable.

[oddfish7 in reply to SpeedyH]

OK that's helpful to know. Thank you !

[FacingTheFuture]

I read your post and was drawn to your mention about self funding. Very long story but despite being advised by her solicitor not to, a deceased family member has left a lump sum in her Will direct to our son, which means when he gets the money, his savings will take him over the threshold for any benefits etc. He gets a direct payment from the local authority so I have no idea what will happen, how the finance for this will work. He has a PA who he has employed for 7 years. It’s a few hours a week because his support needs, although essential, are light touch. It feels like a financial mess is on the horizon for me to sort out.

[oddfish7 in reply to FacingTheFuture]

Hi, I'm not an expert but Mencap Wills & Trusts have advice on this situation and perhaps a trust could be something you could investigate for your son to protect his inheritance. There is a link on the Mencap site. Hope this is some help. Apologies if you have already looked into a trust.

As I understand it, Direct payment and self-funding are different things. Self-funding is when the service user pays from their own money for LA services; Direct Payments are when the LA provides funds to the service user to manage for their chosen services. If a service user has more than the threshold in their accounts then they will be expected to self-fund.

Good luck with it.