CARE HOMES

A top-up payment is the difference between the amount the Local Authority is prepared to pay and the amount the home is charging.

Over the years the cost of care has escalated due to changes in legislation, requirements by the Essential Standards of Quality and Safety, minimum wage and insurance costs, and unfortunately although these costs are recognised by the Local Authorities, they are not able to pay care homes a reasonable rate for the work they do, hence more and more homes are having to charge top-ups.

Top-ups can only be paid by a third party sponsor (except during the 12 week disregard and deferred payment scheme period- (See Interim Funding), this can be anyone such as a family member or members, friend, or charity.

In the last 2 to 3 years Councils have been providing topping up payments themselves depending on the case, however in recent times this has been capped in some areas. You may therefore find that for example, although the top-up is £40 per week, the Council may be prepared to pay half of this, in which case there would be more than one sponsor i.e. 1st Sponsor- Local Authority, 2nd Sponsor- Family/Friend/Charity.