HC Deb 13 February 2002 vol 380 cc488-9W
John Austin

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidance he has published regarding items for which a deduction may be made from the personal expenses allowance by a care home; and if he will make a statement; [34695]

(2) whether deductions may be made from the personal expenses allowance for people in care homes to meet (a) any shortfall in fees and (b) items and services; [34696]

(3) if he will make it his policy that older people in care homes should not be required to contribute part of the personal expenses allowance to meet a shortfall in fees unless it is their express wish to do so. [34698]

Jacqui Smith

[holding answer 12 February 2002]: Under National Assistance (Sums for Personal Requirements) Regulations, council-supported residents in care homes should receive a personal expenses allowance, currently standing at £16.05 per week. It is for the residents' personal use and the full amount should be made available to residents. It may not be spent on services contracted by councils from homes, and should not be spent on services to meet assessed need identified by either the council or the national health service.

Because services to meet assessed needs should be tailored to each individual's specific circumstances, it is not helpful to publish definitive lists of what the personal expenses allowance should or should not be spent on.

Subject to informed consent and prior agreement, residents may have arrangements with care home managers so that items and services, which do not form part of the contract with the council and are not part of council or NHS services to meet assessed need, are automatically paid for out of the personal expenses allowance.

Residents, except those subject to the 12 weeks property disregard or a deferred payments agreement, should not use resources either disregarded or not taken into account by the financial assessment for council-supported residential care to pay for more expensive accommodation than the council would normally fund. These resources include the personal expenses allowance. These matters are covered in guidance issued to councils.

Care home residents whose entitlement to higher rates of income support was preserved in 1993 also receive a personal expenses allowance through income support regulations. This allowance is meant for residents' own use on small personal items. In limited circumstances, preserved rights residents who have difficulty in meeting care home fees may be financially helped by councils. The responsibility for preserved rights cases is transferred to councils in April 2002. These residents will be entitled to the personal expenses allowance under National Assistance regulations.