Will I have to pay for any social care I receive?
In England, local authorities have a legal obligation under the Care Act 2014 to help people with sight loss develop practical skills and strategies to maintain independence, including:
- At least 6 weeks of free vision rehabilitation
- Free community equipment, including minor adaptations to the home where this costs £1000 or less.
In order to find out how much you will need to pay for other care, your local authority will carry out a financial assessment. This will normally take place after it has been agreed what care and support you require.
The financial assessment is made up of two tests, the capital test and the income test.
The capital test looks at how much you have in savings, while the income test looks at how much money you have coming in each week.
If you are based in Wales, you also have a legal right to free rehabilitation services for at least the first 6 weeks, but you may be means-tested for contributions towards any community equipment or adaptations you are assessed as needing.
In Scotland there is not a legal right relating to free rehabilitation but there is guidance recommending its provision and so in practice this will often be available free of charge.
Further information can be found on RNIB's Social care and rehabilitation webpage.
