Top-ups
When a person has a Council funded placement and chooses a care home that is more expensive than the amount the Council would usually expect to pay, an arrangement will need to be made as to how the difference will be met. This is known as the 'top up' or 'additional payment'.
A top up is an additional payment:
-
For an individual who chooses a care placement that is commissioned by Bolton Council and is more expensive than the amount the Council would usually expect to pay.
- A third party is usually paid by a family member or a friend, but it can be anyone who agrees to meet the additional costs and meets the financial criteria. This is called a 'third-party top up'.
In certain circumstances you can make a top-up payment yourself, this is called a 'first-party top up'.
These can be put in place when:
- You are subject to a 12-week property disregard
- You have a deferred payment agreement in place with the Council
- Where you are receiving accommodation provided under Section 117 for mental health aftercare
For more information, please read the Paying for Residential and Nursing Care guide and the Care Home Top Up Policy.