General Election postal votes
If you have not received your postal vote for the General Election on 4 July 2024, please call us on 01305 838299 so that a replacement can be issued.
If you need care, we will do your financial assessment. This is to look at your savings, income and expenses, so we can work out how much you need to pay.
If you have:
Ask for help as soon as possible. We can backdate any payments to the day you asked for help.
We will check that you get all the money you are entitled to. This help is free and confidential.
We will:
You must tell us as soon as possible if you get any extra money or your income changes.
Our Adult Access Team can help you on 01305 221 016.
And the Citizens Advice Bureau can also help you to apply for benefits.
Some bills are cheaper if you receive certain benefits. For example:
If you move into a care home and your care is funded by Dorset Council, the following benefits will stop, after 28 days of your move:
These benefits also stop 28 days after you are admitted to the hospital.
You must tell the Department for Work and Pensions if you are admitted to a hospital or a care home, and you receive one of these benefits.
We will ask about your money. For example:
You will need to give evidence, for example, bank statements, savings passbooks, or property deeds.
Do not give away your money whilst you get help with your care from the council. This money may still be included in the assessment.
We will ask about the money you receive:
We will ask about the cost of running your home:
You will need to give statements or bills to prove that you spend this money.
We will ask about disability-related expenditure.
This is the money you spend because of your disabilities. This could be:
You will need to give your receipts. You will also need to provide evidence that you have to spend this money because of your disability, such as a letter from your GP.
Your contribution
We will use information about your income and your expenses to work out how much you will pay towards your care.
If you are living in a care home, the calculation will be different.
We will write to you within 5 working days to tell you the amount that you need to pay for your care.
If you think we have made a mistake, you can write to the financial assessment team, within 28 days.
Tell the financial assessment team about changes that could affect your contribution. For example:
If you are using your home to pay for your care, you can read the information on the deferred payment agreement.
If you are going to a care home that costs more money than the council will pay, then you can use top-up and third-party contribution.
Dorset Council will send you invoices by post, every 4 weeks.
An invoice is like a bill. This is to tell you to pay your contribution towards your care. It is not the full cost of your care.
If you only get a direct payment, you will not be sent invoices. Read more information on direct payments.
You can pay by Direct Debit. This option is good because it sets up debit dates automatically, so you do not need to remember to pay.
We can do a full review of your finances at any time, but no more than 4 times in one year.
Most reviews are done by phone or post.
Phone: 01305 228762
We are open: