b'The fees charged by care homes vary considerably. ItFinancial help and support you may be is sensible to compare the fees of different homes andentitled to check what items and services are included within theIf you have investments and savings of more than fees and what they charge extra for. 23,250 (this may include the value of your main Paying for your own care if you haveor only home), you will have to pay for residential or investments and savings of morenursing home care yourself. The value of your main or than23,250only home will not be taken into account when we are deciding if you are eligible for financial help from us if If you have more than 23,250 in investments andany of the following people continue to live there.savings (this may include the value of your main or only#Your partnerhome) and can afford the full cost of your care, you can#A dependent child (under 18) who you are make your own arrangements to go into the care homeresponsible forof your choice and pay for the care you need. Whatever your personal financial circumstances, you may be#A relative who is aged 60 or over or is incapacitated.eligible for some financial help from the DepartmentA person may be considered to be incapacitated if they for Work and Pensions (DWP). are receiving one or more of the state benefits listed It is important that you receive all the benefits andbelow (or a similar benefit) or if their situation qualifies payments you are entitled to, and that you getthem to receive one of the benefits.independent financial advice when you are choosing a#Incapacity Benefithome to meet your needs. This can help make sure that#Employment and Support Allowance (support you can afford to pay for your care, and avoid the needcomponent)to move to another home with lower fees. #Universal Credit (limited capability for work and Carewise is a care-funding scheme that helps peoplework-related activity component)get good information and advice about the range of#Severe Disablement Allowancecare and support options available to meet their needs#Disability Living Allowanceand the most cost-effective ways of paying for long-term care. See page 21 for more information. #Personal Independence Payment (PIP)It is important that you make sure you can afford the#Attendance Allowancefees for the foreseeable future. If your investments#Constant Attendance Allowanceand savings fall below 23,250 you may become#Armed Forces Independence Paymenteligible for financial support from us, following anEven if you are paying for residential or nursing assessment. We will only be able to help with your feeshome care yourself, you can still ask us to assess your in the future if we have carried out an assessment ofcommunity-care needs. If you are moving into a care your care needs, the home of your choice is suitable forhome, you may be entitled to some of the following your needs and the fees are not more than we wouldfinancial help and support.normally expect to pay.#Attendance AllowanceThe most we would normally pay for your care are the#Personal Independence Paymentrates set out on page 23.#12-week property disregard (where we do not take What happens if I run out of money andinto account the value of your property for the first cant pay my care fees?12 weeks after you move into the care home, unless Your savings can reduce very quickly when you areyour property is sold within that 12-week period) paying care home fees. This can be a difficult and#Deferred payment agreement (a legal document, unsettling situation and is one of the reasons why wesimilar to a mortgage agreement, that allows you to recommend you get specialist independent financialuse the value of your property to help pay the cost of advice as soon as possible, and preferably before youyour residential care)move into your care home (see the Carewise section#NHS-funded nursing care contribution (see below)onpage 21). #NHS continuing healthcare fundingContact us six months before your investmentsIf you are moving into a care home with nursing (a and savings reduce to below 23,250 (or soonernursing home) you may also be eligible to have part if possible). We will refer you to a welfare benefitsof your fees paid by a contribution from the NHS. adviser for an initial review. We also recommend thatThis payment is called an NHS-funded nursing care you talk to your care provider to explain your situation.contribution and is paid to the care home. A nurse Contact Adults CarePoint on 01243 642121 orwill assess your needs to see if you need care from email socialcare@westsussex.gov.uk. You can alsoa registered nurse. If the assessment shows you do call using Relay UK on 18001 01243 642121 (fromneed care from a registered nurse, the NHS may pay a textphone or the NGT Lite app downloaded onto a209.19 as a contribution towards the weekly fees. computer, tablet or smartphone).20Living well in your community'