How to get the best support from your council
If you think you have any care and support needs, you can contact us to ask for a free assessment.
The assessment is a discussion between you (or the person you look after) and a trained person either from the council or another organisation that the council works with. We'll talk about your situation and what changes you would like to make in your life to find out how your needs could be met.
For over-18s
There are 2 different ways to request help and support, and it is really important that you use the right one for your circumstances.
Using the wrong referral process may delay any support we can offer.
- Make a professional referral
- Refer yourself, a friend, or family member
Finding out what care and support you need
We will do a needs assessment, which means we will talk to you about your situation and find out what changes you would like to make in your life. We can do this either in person or by telephone. You can read our guide to preparing for a needs assessment (PDF, 35.3 KB).
After the assessment, we'll agree what kind of care and support you need, and how much it's likely to cost. If you need services you have to pay for, we'll also do a financial assessment. There are many ways to pay for care and support and we'll talk to you about your options after the assessment.
If we can't help you because your assessment shows you're not eligible for our support, we will always tell you about other organisations that could help you.
Read our full guide to social care for adults (PDF, 701.7 KB)
Read our guide to accessing our services (PDF, 274.3 KB)
Benefits and financial support
Benefits calculator
Find out what benefits and support you are entitled to.
A list of government benefits and financial support is available on the GOV.UK website.
Help with paying Council Tax
Check your district council's website to find out about Council Tax support.
Home essentials in a crisis
Practical household essentials for you during an emergency or crisis. Service also known as Kent Support and Assistance Service (KSAS).
Money Advice Service
Free, independent and unbiased financial advice.
Turn2Us
Turn2Us is a charity that offers advice on benefits and charitable grants.
Debt advice
Stepchange is an independent charity helping people manage their debts.
Visit a gateway
Gateways offer face-to-face advice about benefits and financial support.
Report a loan shark
Report a loan shark to KCC Trading Standards.
Kent Savers
Kent Savers is a non-profit organisation offering loans and savings accounts.
Tax help for older people
Free tax advice for older people on low incomes.
Independent financial advice for older people
If you're going to pay for care and support by yourself, we suggest getting financial advice.
c-App
c-App offers online assistance to help you apply for ESA and PIP
Paying for care and support
Find out about care and support charges, including if you can get help towards the cost and the ways to pay.
Charges for care
Costs vary depending on the type of care or support you need. View our charges.
How much you will pay
We will assess how much you need to pay towards the full cost of your care. This is called a financial assessment.
Ways to pay
If you are receiving care or support that you have to pay for, there are several ways to pay.
Independent advice
Get independent financial advice about care and support payment options.
Paying with direct payments
Pay suppliers yourself using money from KCC.
Pay our social care bill
How to pay a social care bill we have sent you.
Deferred payments
Using the value of your home to help pay care costs.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.