LOCAL INFORMATION
10.7.2.0
Long-Term Care Benefit
Extent : Jersey
Updated : October 2016
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Words you may need to know
Benefit – an allowance; a payment made to help with something
Care need – when someone needs help to look after themselves
Dressing - putting on clothes and shoes
Eligible - when a person can get something because they satisfy certain rules
High-level - a lot more than usual
Long-term - to go on for a long time
Long term care contribution - money paid into the Long Term Care Fund
Means test - when someone’s income and the value of all that they own is looked at to see how much money they have to pay for things
Substantial - a large amount
What is Long Term Care Benefit?
A new Long-Term Care fund (LTC) was set up in July 2014 to provide benefit payments for adults who have long-term high-level care needs.
The scheme was funded at first by the States but since 1st January 2015, in addition to annual States funding, money is raised to pay for the LTC by a new LTC contribution from Jersey residents who have an income high enough to pay tax.
For detailed information and a copy of a booklet about LTC see:
http://www.gov.je/Benefits/LongTermCare/Pages/LongTermCareAbout.aspx
In brief:
Need for Care
Having long-term care (LTC) needs means that a person needs substantial help with daily activities such as getting out of bed and dressing.
The LTC scheme provides financial support to Jersey residents who are likely to need long-term care for the rest of their life, either in their own home or in a care home.
How the LTC scheme works
If you need long-term care, you will be able to claim the LTC benefit once your assessed care costs have reached a certain limit or ‘cap’. The current cap for care costs in 2016 is £53,060 but the website should be checked for an up-to-date amount.
If you move into a care home, you will be responsible for paying the home's ‘non-care costs’ ie the cost of accommodation and day-to-day living expenses. The amount that you need to pay to cover these non-care costs is known as ‘the co-payment’.
However, if you receive care in your own home you will not need to pay a co-payment, because you will already be paying for your day- to- day living costs because you are still living at home.
If you cannot afford to pay your share of the care or non-care costs you can apply for extra help to the Social Security Department. Help might be available after a means test or maybe through an LTC property loan.
Reducing the stress of worrying about money for long-term care
The LTC scheme aims to remove a lot of the worry about how people will be able to afford the cost of long-term care.
For queries contact the Social Security Department:
Philip Le Feuvre House, La Motte Street, St Helier.
Contact details:
Telephone: 01534 445505
Fax: 01534 445525
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm
