You might have to pay for the social care services you get. How much you pay will depend on your income and savings. 

The local authority must work out what services you need before doing a financial assessment. This is so that your ability to pay doesn’t influence its decisions over what to provide. 

If you’re aged 65 or over, and have been assessed as needing personal care (eg help with bathing), you won’t be charged for it. 
 

Direct payments 

If the local authority is going to fund some or all of your support, it will arrange services for you. If you want, you can ask the local authority to give the funding to you, or your carer, as a direct payment instead. With direct payments, you will be able to choose what, how and when support is provided, and who provides it. This is called ‘self-directed support’. 

If you are assessed as having healthcare needs as well as social care needs, a joint funded package from social care and the NHS can sometimes be provided. 
 

Support for your carer 

If you have a carer, they are entitled to a carer’s assessment. A person is a carer if they give you substantial and regular care and are not paid for it. After a carer's assessment, the council might offer your carer some support. The council can’t charge your carer for this support. 

If you don’t agree with something 

If you disagree with a decision not to pay for your care services, or you don’t think you’ve been offered enough support to meet your needs, or a service has been stopped, you can challenge the local authority's decision. 

More information

Care Information Scotland has information about financial assessment and self-directed support and support for carers
Citizens Advice Scotland has information about making a complaint about social care services
Disability Rights UK has information about employing personal assistants.