Financial benefits are provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and not by Devon County Council.

We also don't provide a specific advice, information and representation service on aspects of welfare benefits and debt problems. However,

• our Finance and Benefits Team will offer a welfare benefit check when making sure that only a fair charge is made for any of our chargeable services
• also, if you are over 60 and in contact with Care Direct Devon, they will offer a benefits check too.

The following information may be of use in further understanding how we make a financial assessment for any of our chargeable social care services, but please note:

• The figures are based on the actual allowances which the Department of Works & Pensions (DWP) allow when calculating benefit entitlement. When local authorities complete the assessment for non-residential care, the allowances used are the DWP allowance plus 25% and these figures reflect this. (The policy document for this is 'Fairer Charging Policies for Home Care and Other Non Residential Social Services', Sep 03).  
• These figures also take no account of capital limits - see How much will I have to pay?.  

How much benefit can I receive before I have to pay for home care?

Personal Living Allowance for single adults and couples April 2005 - 2006

(Please note that you qualify for the 'disabled rate of Personal Living Allowance' if you receive one of the following benefits)...

• Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance
• Long-term Incapacity Benefit
• Severe Disablement Premium

or if you...

• are Registered Blind
• have an Invalid Trike
• have been incapable of work for 28 weeks or more

Weekly Personal Living Allowance for single people with no dependant children:

Circumstances	18-24 years	25 years +	60 years +
Not disabled	£55.63	£70.25	£136.81
Disabled	£85.56	£100.19	£136.81
Disabled enhances *	£100.19	£114.81	£136.81

* Receiving Disability Living Allowance High Care or High Attendance Allowance

Weekly Personal Living Allowance for couples with no dependant children:

Circumstances	18-24 years	25 years +	60 years +
Not disabled	£109.13	£109.13	£201.19
Disabled	£151.44	£151.44	£201.19
Disabled enhances*	£172.38	£172.38	£201.19

* Receiving Disability Living Allowance High Care or High Attendance Allowance

A service user is assessed as an individual for the purposes of the financial assessment and if both partners in a couple require services each will be left with the amount shown. e.g. Mr James and Mrs James would each be left with a weekly allowance of £55.63 combined the income they would be left with as a couple would be £111.26. If only one member of the couple requires care no account is taken of their partners income and any joint income is usually divided equally between the two.

How can I find out if some of my income is disregarded?

We disregard the following benefits and incomes when assessing your disposable income:  

Benefit or income	Amount disregarded each week
Disability Living Allowance (Mobility Components)	Full
Earnings	Full
War / War Widows Pensions	£10.00
War / War Widows Special Payments	£64.62
Charitable Payments	£20.00
Student Loan	£10.00

We deduct the following outgoings from your income when assessing your disposable income...

Outgoings	Amount disregarded each week
Child Support	Full

You will need to provide proof of payment or a receipt for the above benefits, incomes and outgoings.