QC Quality Statements
Theme 1 – Working with People: Supporting people to live healthier lives
We Statement
We support people to manage their health and wellbeing so they can maximise their independence, choice and control. We support them to live healthier lives and where possible, reduce future needs for care and support.
What people expect
I can get information and advice about my health, care and support and how I can be as well as possible – physically, mentally and emotionally.
I am supported to plan ahead for important changes in my life that I can anticipate.
BURY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
CONTENTS
1. Introduction
Disability related expenditure (DRE) is the financial cost that an adult incurs, specifically because they are disabled or have health problems. The local authority must take this expenditure into account in financial assessments to make sure that people who pay towards their care and support have enough money to live on (see Charging and Financial Assessment chapter).
Examples of DRE include additional costs for heating if someone feels the cold because of their impairment and needs extra heating to keep warm and additional laundry costs for someone who is incontinent. See Appendix 1: Disability Related Expenditures and Sources of Evidence for further information.
2. Eligibility for Disability Related Expenditure
To qualify for DRE, the adult must be in receipt of the care component of Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment (Care) or Attendance Allowance.
Their assessment and care and support plan should also identify disabilities or medical conditions which demonstrate their need for DRE.
The local authority should assess the adult’s DRE as part of their financial assessment.
3. Financial Assessment
During the financial assessment process, the person or their carer will need to provide the Financial Assessment Officer with the following information:
- the costs they have due to being disabled or having a health condition;
- how much these costs are.
The person will also need to provide receipts or any other evidence of these costs (see Appendix 1: Examples of Disability Related Expenditure and Sources of Evidence).
When considering DRE, the local authority will:
- look at the information provided, including the receipts and any other evidence;
- check to see if the costs provided relate to the adult’s care needs as specified in their care and support plan (see Care and Support Planning chapter);
- check to see if any income the adult receives already covers these costs.
If the evidence is provided as part of the financial assessment process, the DRE will be included and backdated to the start date of the assessment.
If the evidence is provided at a later date, any DRE reduction will be effective from the start of the week following the date the evidence is received.
The local authority will let the person know the outcome of the financial assessment in writing, including explanations of:
- how the assessment has been carried out;
- what the charges will be;
- how they should be paid; and
- the reason for any fluctuation in charges.
4. Reviews and Complaints
If the person or their carer/ representative does not agree with the DRE amount they can ask for a review.
The Financial Assessment Team should examine the person’s DRE calculations, to see if the amount is correct.
If the outcome of the review is that the correct amount has been calculated, but the person or their representative is still not satisfied with the decision, they can ask the Financial Assessment Team Manager to review their case.
If the person or their representative are not satisfied with the review decision, they can make a complaint (see Complaints chapter).
5. Further Reading
5.1 Relevant chapters
Charging and Financial Assessment
Appendix 1: Examples of Disability Related Expenditure and Sources of Evidence
This list is not intended to be exhaustive, it is for guidance purposes only:
| DRE Element | Examples | Evidence |
| Personal hygiene | Incontinence sheets / pads /pants | Receipts or invoices from supplier |
| Laundry costs | Increased washing and ironing due to impairment or medical condition, or specialist washing powders | Details required about number of loads of washing each week |
| Privately purchased care | Care costs not met by the local authority, including night care | Invoices or bills from the provider |
| Treatment to support wellbeing / prevent or reduce needs | Massage, hydrotherapy | Invoices or bills from the provider |
| Specific diet | Additional food costs specific to health needs | Receipts or invoices |
| Additional bedding | Incontinence | Receipts |
| Purchase and maintenance of equipment | Equipment includes hoists, powered and turning beds, scooter / wheelchair and stair lifts | Invoices or bills from provider (excluding any local authority funding) |
| Community alarm | Neck pendant with which to contact call centre in an emergency | Invoices / bills from the provider |
| Gardening maintenance | Pruning, weeding and mowing | Invoices / bills from the provider |
| Heating | Higher heating costs due to impairment | Bills from energy provider / bank statements |
| Home shopping delivery | Supermarket delivery or paying somebody to deliver shopping | Receipts |
| House maintenance | DIY, repair and general maintenance | Invoices / bills from the provider |
| Transport | Taxis, petrol or local transport costs due to impairment | Amounts over Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payment Mobility considered together with receipts / tickets |
Household Fuel Costs can be taken into account if evidenced. Rates used are based on the region’s average heating costs by occupancy and property type and are revised annually based on the latest RPI Fuel Index figures published by the National Statistics Office. Bury Council will locally reduce the above rates by 10%.
| Occupancy/Type of Property |
| Single person – Flat / Terrace |
| Couple – Flat / Terrace |
| Single person – Semi Detached |
| Couple – Semi Detached |
| Single – Detached |
| Couple – Detached |
Appendix 2: Summary of Disability Related Expenses
DREs are the costs associated with having a disability or medical condition.
The local authority may take into account and reasonable costs of help or support a person needs to live independently.
This cost must also have been identified in the person’s care and support plan.
Allowances for disability-related expenditure will only be made where those costs are:
- met entirely by the person;
- specifically relate to the disability in question;
- supported by documentary evidence – receipts dating back up to six months (dependant on the local authority’s policy.)
- exceed ‘normal’ costs of living expenses (that is, what an adult without the disability would reasonably be expected to spend.)
Additional factors considered in relation to a claim for these DREs are:
- will the person be receiving a personal budget that will incorporate some of the identified disability-related expenditure?
- should any of the additional disability-related costs be paid for by the NHS, such as chiropody, physiotherapy, incontinence pads, and transport to attend hospital appointments?
- are any items being provided through, or facilitated by, other directorates within the council?
