Supporting People
Fairer charging
Text version
Supporting People is a government programme which funds agencies and organisations that provide housing related support to help vulnerable people live more independently in their own home.
Wolverhampton’s Supporting People team is part of the Adults and Community Department of Wolverhampton City Council. There are many different organisations providing Supporting People services in Wolverhampton, known as service providers. They support a wide range of vulnerable people.
Do I have to pay for this service?
Most people don’t have to pay for their Supporting People service as it usually lasts for less than two years. If you are using a long term service, such as a sheltered housing scheme or you have a community alarm, you may be asked to pay something towards your Supporting People service. This is something your service provider will discuss with you.
You will not have to pay anything if you receive housing benefit, council tax benefit or any other welfare benefit.
If you are not on housing benefit you may still be able to get help with the costs of the support you receive. The Supporting People team will need to carry out a fairer charging financial assessment with you to decide this.
What does fairer charging mean?
All councils have to follow government guidelines about the way they charge people for the housing support services they receive. This is called fairer charging. This is to make sure people are charged fairly and people with a very low income are not left out.
What do I need to do?
Talk to your service provider. They should be able to:
- tell you if you need to have a fairer charging assessment
- give you a fairer charging assessment request form and help you to fill it in
- send your form to the Supporting People team
- support you to make payments until the fairer charging assessment is finished
- help you sort out issues about unpaid support costs that you will not be able to get Supporting People funding for.
What happens next?
Your completed fairer charging assessment request form will be passed to the Supporting People team. We will then arrange for someone to contact you to complete the fairer charging financial assessment with you. If you also pay for care services from Wolverhampton City Council, this will be taken into account.
The person who contacts you will talk you through the process and answer any questions you may have. The Supporting People team will need to look at evidence of your income, savings and how much you spend.
How long will it take?
Our customer service standards state that we expect to be able to begin processing your fairer charging application within 28 days of receiving it and complete it within 56 days. After the assessment the Supporting People team will contact you with the result.
You will also be informed about whether you need to carry on paying your own support costs or whether you will be given back any money. Your provider should be able to contact the Supporting People team for you, but if you prefer you can contact them yourself on 01902 554096.
Download
This information is also available in a leaflet. To open it in PDF format, click the icon below:
You may want to download this leaflet or print a copy for future reference.
For more information contact us by either using our online form or by:
e-mail: supporting.people@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Phone: 01902 554906
Minicom: 01902 555554
Fax: 01902 551195
Write to us:
Supporting People
Adults and Community
Wolverhampton City Council
Civic Centre
St. Peter's Square
Wolverhampton
WV1 1RT