Adult Social Care Contributions Policy consultation

Dear colleagues / partners,

We are writing to inform you that Oxfordshire County Council has now launched a public consultation on proposed changes to the Adult Social Care (ASC) Contributions Policy.

This consultation forms part of a broader review of ASC charging arrangements, bringing together proposals relating to Disability Related Expenditure (DRE), transport, and telecare into a single, coordinated programme.

Overview of the consultation

The consultation is seeking views on three proposed changes:

• A revision to the initial Disability Related Expenditure (DRE) allowance
• The introduction of charging for transport arranged by Adult Social Care
• The introduction of a charge for telecare services

DRE reflects the additional costs people may incur due to disability or age when contributing towards the cost of their care. As part of the consultation, we are proposing to reduce the standard DRE allowance from 35% to 25% of relevant disability benefits, while retaining the option for individuals to request an assessment where their costs are higher.

Purpose of the consultation

The consultation is an opportunity to understand how these proposals could affect people who use services and to gather feedback before any decisions are taken. No final decisions have been made at this stage, and all responses will be carefully considered and used to inform recommendations to Cabinet.

What this means for stakeholders

As key stakeholders, you may receive questions or feedback from service users, partners, or members of the public. We would be grateful if you could:

• Direct individuals to the consultation materials and survey
• Encourage feedback through the appropriate channels

Share any themes or concerns with the programme team where relevant via AdultSocialCare-ContributionsConsultation@oxfordshire.gov.uk

• The communications approach has been designed to be clear, transparent and supportive, recognising that this is a sensitive and potentially impactful area for many people.

Further information

Full details of the consultation, including supporting documents and the online survey, are available via the Council’s consultation platform, Let’s Talk Oxfordshire.