Are You Being Charged Too Much for Your Care? Here’s What to Check

Navigating the adult social care charging system can feel confusing and sometimes, people end up paying more than they should. If you’re worried that your care charges don’t seem right, you’re not alone. The good news is that there are clear steps you can take to understand your assessment and challenge any mistakes.

Below are key questions to help you check whether your local authority has calculated your contribution correctly.

✔️ 1. Are the details about your income correct?

Your financial assessment should be based on accurate, up-to-date information. If your income has changed, if benefits have stopped or started, or if something has been recorded incorrectly, your charge may be wrong.

✔️ 2. Has the local authority disregarded your PIP (Mobility) component?

The Mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) must not be counted as income in a care charging assessment. If it has been included, you may be overcharged.

✔️ 3. Is there a shortfall between your benefits and your housing costs?

If your housing costs—such as rent or mortgage payments—aren’t fully covered by your benefits, this should be taken into account. A shortfall may reduce the amount you’re expected to pay towards your care.

✔️ 4. Have disability-related expenses been deducted?

Many people have extra costs because of their disability. These might include equipment, higher utility bills, special diets, or support services. These disability-related expenses (DREs) should be deducted from your income to ensure a fair charge. If they haven’t been, your contribution may be too high.

✔️ 5. Has the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) been calculated correctly?

The Minimum Income Guarantee is the amount of money you must be left with after your care charges are deducted. If the MIG has been calculated incorrectly—or if you haven’t been left with enough money to meet your basic needs—your assessment may need to be reviewed.

How AccessAva Can Help

If any of these points raise concerns, you don’t need to challenge your care charges alone.

AccessAva offers simple guidance and a step-by-step tool to help you understand the charging rules. By visiting the Charges for social care topic, you can generate a personalised letter to send to your local authority—making it easier to request a reassessment or challenge incorrect charges.