Cabinet to consider changes to adult social care charging policy

Norfolk County Council's Cabinet will meet on 5 August 2024 to consider proposals to change the way that people are charged for adult social care services while living in their own home.

Norfolk County Council currently applies a higher level of Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) than the government's rates for people aged 18 to pension age who receive non-residential care services. The MIG is the minimum amount of income that someone is left with after paying for their care. 

The council consulted on two options to bring the MIG in line with the government's rates which, if adopted, would save the council over £1million each year. 

Councillor Andrew Jamieson, cabinet member for finance at Norfolk County Council, said: "We are facing unprecedented financial challenges as demand and costs continue to rise, and a long-term funding settlement from central government remains uncertain. We must consider these proposals in light of our responsibility to balance our budget and provide statutory services to people in Norfolk." 

Councillor Alison Thomas, cabinet member for adult social care at Norfolk County council said: "We have listened carefully to the views and concerns of the people who responded to the consultation and we will take them into account when we make our decision. We will also consider the recommendations from the Scrutiny Committee and the findings of the equality impact assessment. We recognise that any change to the charging policy will have a meaningful impact on those affected." 

The consultation on the proposals ran from 19 February to 17 May 2024 and received 546 responses. The council has also carried out an equality impact assessment, which highlighted the potential impact on those affected. 

The measures are being considered as part of savings that Norfolk County Council needs to make to balance its budget for 2024/25. Norfolk County Council's medium-term financial projections show a £188m budget shortfall for the county council over the period of 2025-29. 

The council's Scrutiny Committee considered the proposals at a meeting on 17 July 2024, and made a number of recommendations to Cabinet which will be considered at the meeting. 

At the council's cabinet meeting, councillors are being asked to consider the findings of the equality impact assessment, the consultation report, the council's financial position and the recommendations from scrutiny. 

Finally, councillors are being asked to adopt either option 1, option 2, or ask officers to find alternative savings proposals that would add to the existing £88.250m of Adult Social Care savings targets.

Cabinet will consider the report when it meets at 10am on Monday 5 August. You can watch the meeting, live or afterwards, and read the reports online.