Social Services: Costs
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has issued guidance to local authorities on the treatment of Small Self-Invested Pensions in financial assessments.
Answered by Karin Smyth
Where local authorities decide to charge for the provision of care and support, they must follow the Care Act 2014 and the Care and Support (Charging and Assessment of Resources) Regulations 2014, and they must act under the Care and Support Statutory (CASS) guidance.
The responsibility for interpreting and applying the law and the CASS guidance rests with local authorities.
The treatment of private pension income in financial assessments is set out in Annex C of the CASS guidance. Pension income is generally treated as part of a person’s income when conducting financial assessments for adult social care, unless the regulations specifically disregard it.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →