Charges for services

The cost of a service varies depending on your eligibility to receive it. In some cases services may be free. In others, a charge may be applied in line with our eligibility criteria and charging policy

Free services

As part of our assessment process, we will assess whether you are entitled to free personal care and other free services. Your named worker will discuss the options with you. You will be entitled to:

• free care if you meet palliative care criteria
• free personal care if you are 65 years old or over

You may also receive up to six weeks of free new or additional services:

• if you are 65 years old or over, and
• have been discharged from an NHS Hospital
• you were an in patient for 24 hours or more

After a six week period, only the personal care element of the service will continue to be free.

Services in place prior to admission to hospital, and which continue after discharge, will continue to be chargeable.

Personal care

• there is no charge for the personal care part of your care at home service
• if you receive free personal care only, you will not be asked to complete a financial information form
• if your service changes to include a chargeable service you will be asked to complete a form to enable us to assess your contribution

How to get a service

• to help us decide what support may be available to help you and what charges may be applied, we will need you to have a personal assessment
• you can find out more by visiting your nearest What Matters Hub or by phoning us on 0300 100 1800 (option one)
• if you are not eligible to receive a free or subsidised service, or if you prefer to arrange a service directly without an assessment, contact us on 0300 100 1800 or email tec@scotborders.gov.uk to talk to an adviser about other options.