What you will be asked in an assessment

Part of: Financial assessments

Contents

During the assessment, you may be asked about:

  • Your income (salary, pensions, benefits, allowances)
  • Your savings and capital (bank account, investments, property excluding your main property)
  • Any property or assets you own besides your primary residence
  • Your living arrangements (who lives with you, rent, mortgage payments)
  • Your household expenses (bills, council tax, essential costs)
  • Details of any financial support you give or receive (e.g. childcare, maintenance payments)
  • Your marital or partnership status
  • Your partner’s or spouse’s financial information if you live together
  • Information about financial dependents
  • Current or expected care costs or payments

The value of your home

If you receive care at home, the value of your property is not counted. If you move into a care home permanently, the value of your home may be included unless your partner is still living there. 

If you have additional properties, these will be included in the value of your assets. 

Costs linked to your disability if you receive care at home

If you receive care at home, you need to inform us of any additional expenses you incur due to your condition, impairment, or disability. These are called disability-related expenditures (DRE).

DRE usually covers items where you have little or no choice other than to pay the expense to continue to live in your home.

You can read more about disability-related expenditure on GOV.UK.

Giving away money to avoid paying for care

You cannot give away property, savings, or other assets to try to reduce the amount you have to pay for care. This is known as deprivation of assets. We are required to look at whether this has happened. 

If we decide you have deliberately reduced your assets to avoid paying for care, we may still assess you as if you still owned them and you may be asked to pay towards the cost of your care.

Power of Attorney/Deputy/DWP Appointee

If you have appointed someone to manage your financial affairs, they can act on your behalf during the financial assessment process. 

This means they can provide the necessary financial information, sign documents related to your assessment and make decisions about payment and contributions.

You will need to provide a copy of the power of attorney document or proof of Deputyship. 

Further information on appointing someone to act on your behalf: