What is the most I will have to pay?

If you have to pay towards the cost of your residential accommodation, your income should not fall below the ‘personal expenses allowance’ (PEA), which is currently £24.90 a week. Sometimes, you may be left with more than the PEA, if you have children to care for or you have to pay for the upkeep of a property that has been disregarded, for example.

Sue’s story:

Sue lives in accommodation that costs the Trust £400 a week. She has £204.40 a week in income and £19,000 savings, which means that the local authority regard her as having £20 tariff income. This makes her total income £224.40 per week but because the local authority has to leave Sue with at least £24.90 to live on, she will have to pay £199.50 a week towards the cost of her residential care.