FAQs

Care and support in the community means services arranged by the Council to help people live independently outside of residential care settings. This can include things like care at home (such as personal care, help with meals, or medication support), day services and activities, support with getting out and about, direct payments to manage personal care needs, and equipment or home adaptations to help people stay living at home.

The Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) ensures that individuals receiving local authority-arranged community care and support retain a minimum level of income after contributing towards their care costs such as

• Food
• Toiletries
• Clothing
• Household items
• Other personal spending

It ensures that people can meet basic daily living needs while receiving care.

The MIG top up is an additional amount that local authorities can apply on top of the statutory MIG. In Waltham Forest, this uplift is currently set at 25%, allowing residents to keep more of their income and providing extra financial protection after paying for care.

The Council is proposing a reduction of the MIG top up over a two year period from 25% to 10% with a further reduction to 0%. This change brings Waltham Forest in line with other councils and aims to ensure a fair and sustainable approach to care funding.

The proposed reduction aims to balance protecting residents' financial wellbeing with ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of adult social care services. Many other councils have already reduced or removed their MIG uplifts in response to similar pressures. If implemented the proposal could help save around £1 million per year which is a significant contribution towards the council’s savings target.

The proposed change may affect individuals who receive care and support in the community who are currently assessed to contribute towards the cost of their care and benefit from the 25% top up to the MIG. The impact will vary for each person depending on their financial situation and how the reduction from the 25% top up affects their charges.

Approximately 2,500 residents receive community care and support in Waltham Forest. Based on current financial assessments:

• Nil payers (currently not contributing): Around 1,400 residents do not pay towards their care because their income is below the protected MIG threshold. If the discretionary uplift is reduced, around 350 of these residents may begin contributing a small amount, depending on their updated financial assessment. Others may still not have to pay.
• Contributing residents: About 1,000 residents already make weekly payments towards their care. These individuals may see their contributions increase if the uplift is reduced. The exact change will depend on their age, income, and individual circumstances.

No one will be expected to pay more for care than they can afford. The statutory MIG (set by govt) ensures that individuals retain a minimum level of income. The council’s proposal is in line with the approach taken by many other local authorities, which assume the MIG provides a reasonable standard of financial support. However, if implemented, the council will also review individual circumstances of those adversely affected and may provide additional support to those who need it most.

Some costs are excluded from a financial assessment because they are recognised as necessary for daily living or disability-related needs. These include:

• Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG):
   Everyone is allowed to retain a minimum level of income based on their age and personal circumstances. This is not included in the financial assessment.
• Housing Costs:
   Certain housing-related expenses are excluded, such as:
  • Rent or mortgage payments
  • Council tax
  • Building insurance (for homeowners)
  • Essential utility bills (e.g. water, gas)
• Disability-Related Expenditure (DRE):
   These are additional costs directly related to a person’s disability. Examples include:
  • Extra bedding or laundry due to incontinence or risk of infection
  • Costs for buying, servicing, or repairing specialist equipment (e.g. adapted computers, communication aids)
  • Special clothing or footwear required due to a disability
  • Community alarm or Telecare services
  • Higher-than-average energy costs due to disability-related needs
• Other Approved Expenses:
   In some cases, other necessary costs may also be excluded, such as:
  • Educational expenses included in a care and support plan
  • Court-ordered payments

Each case is assessed individually, and residents are encouraged to provide information about any relevant expenses during their financial assessment.

The council delivers a wide range of essential services, including:

• Adult Social Care: Support for older people, disabled adults, and those with mental health needs
• Children’s Services: Child protection, foster care, and support for children with SEND
• Housing: Homelessness prevention, housing advice, and (where applicable) council housing management
• Waste and Environment: Household waste and recycling, street cleaning, and pest control
• Public Health: Health promotion, substance misuse, sexual health, and stop smoking services
• Education Support: School admissions, SEND services, and early years support
• Transport and Streets: Road maintenance, street lighting, parking, and traffic management
• Community Safety: Crime and anti-social behaviour prevention in partnership with local agencies
• Libraries and Leisure: Access to public libraries, leisure centres, and cultural activities (in many areas)