Finance: Your rights

Paying for help or care (see also Care section above)

If you have been assessed by your local council Social Services as in need of help or care, whether at home or in a care home, you have the right to a financial assessment to determine whether the council will help towards the costs.

More about the financial assessment 1

More about the financial assessment 2

If a needs assessment by your local council has accepted that you need help or care, and that this could be provided at home and that the council will contribute towards the costs – then you have the right to ask for this contribution in cash (direct payment) to help you arrange your care yourself.

More about Direct Payments

If you are funding your care yourself, you have no rights to specialist guidance or advice on how best to do this. However if you consult a registered Independent Financial Advisor (IFA), you have the right to a service that conforms to rules set by a regulatory body called The Financial Services Authority (FSA).
FSA rules oblige IFAs to provide advice most suited to each client’s personal requirements and risk outlook. When financial products are recommended they must take into account the benefits provided, charges, flexibility, service and financial strength. If advising on funding long term care, they must have a specialist qualification known as CF8.

Visit the IFA Promotion website for information about IFAs and to find your nearest IFA

More about Self Funding Care Home Fees

Complaints

If you are unhappy with a local council decision, you have the right to challenge it. Use the council's own complaints procedure first. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, send a written complaint to your Local Government Ombudsman, or ask a councillor to do so on your behalf.

Visit the Local Government Ombudsman website

If you are unhappy with the services of a registered financial advisor, first follow that advisor’s complaints procedure. If necessary, take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).

Visit the FOS website