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Financial assessments: what you need to know
Information for people receiving care in a residential or nursing home
This booklet will help you prepare for your financial assessment. It tells you why we carry out financial assessments, the questions we will ask and the documents and information you will need to provide as evidence.
Why do I need a financial assessment?
We carry out financial assessments to work out how much you may need to pay towards the cost of your care and support. We call this your contribution.
The amount of your contribution will depend on your financial circumstances and how much you can reasonably afford to pay. A member of the Financial Assessment Team will contact you to arrange your financial assessment.
We normally ask you to fill in an online form and provide the evidence and information we ask you for. Let the Financial Assessment Team know if you can't do this and you don't have anyone who can do it for you.
Please see the checklist of the evidence we may need to see.
The financial assessment should be simpler for you if you get the documents and information ready beforehand.
What we look at in your financial assessment
If you will be living long term in a residential or nursing home, we will look at the money you receive (your income), the value of any property you own, and savings and assets (your capital). We will make sure you are left with a personal allowance to cover any other expenses you have.
If you will be staying in a residential or nursing home for a short time, we will also consider your ongoing housing costs as part of the financial assessment, as you will be planning to return home after your stay.
For more detailed information about how we work out your contribution, please see our ‘Choosing and paying towards care in a residential or nursing home’ leaflet. Please visit our website at westsussex.gov.uk and search under ‘Adults’ social care publications’. Or you can contact our Adults’ CarePoint and ask for a copy. See the contact details on the 'Contact us' page.