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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 15TH NOVEMBER 2016
Question
Will the Minister advise what the timeline is for new Regulations to cover the introduction of the new component of Personal Care (PC) Level 4? Will she further advise when, how and by whom applicants for the new care component will be assessed? How many applications are envisaged from current recipients of PC Level 3 along with new applicants over the period outlined above?
Answer
Officers of the Social Security Department are preparing the necessary law drafting required for the introduction of the new flexible Personal Care component of Income Support. This has sometimes been referred to as Personal Care Level 4. The Regulations will be lodged early in 2017. This will leave adequate time to communicate to Family Nursing & Home Care (FNHC) customers prior to the planned introduction of the new component in July 2017, and for Social Security staff to prepare for any new claims or changes to existing claims.
Applicants for the new Flexible Personal Care component will have a package of care assessed by qualified staff in Health and Social Services, the value of which will then be incorporated into the calculation of Income Support entitlement. The care assessment will be similar to the current assessment process for the Long Term Care benefit. All current FNHC home care clients are being offered such an assessment by Health and Social Services, and this offer will be reiterated prior to any changes coming into force. Some are already claiming Income Support and they can choose to take up the new component when it becomes available without any further assessment. Some FNHC clients may choose not to apply for any assistance from Income Support.
It is not possible to give an estimate of how many new customers will choose to claim the new component, as a proportion of FNHC clients will not require assistance from Income Support, and will continue meeting their care costs themselves. Current recipients of Personal Care 3 (PC3) who have an assessment can choose to move to the new component if the cost of their 2017 care package exceeds the value of PC3 (which is currently £145.25 a week).