Rotherham home-care charges to rise by 21% but council says it won't impact those on low incomes
The increase applies to non-residential care – support such as home care visits, day services and help in supported living
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council has proposed a 21 per cent rise in the maximum amount some residents can be charged for care delivered in their own homes, lifting the weekly cap from £689 to £837 from April 2026.
The increase applies to non-residential care – support such as home care visits, day services and help in supported living – and is designed to bring charges closer to the true cost of providing care.
Only a small number of people are affected: around 25 residents currently hit the £689 weekly limit. Raising the cap is expected to reduce that to six, while generating up to £85,000 a year to help ease pressure on adult social care budgets. People on low incomes will continue to be financially assessed and will only pay what they can afford.
A second change would introduce a one-off £350 administration fee for people who fund their own care but ask the council to arrange it for them. Around 200 self-funders currently use this service, potentially generating £70,000 when new packages are set up or significantly changed.
The council says it already absorbs the cost of arranging care for self-funders, which is no longer sustainable. A previously suggested annual fee was dropped after overwhelming public opposition.
Officials stress that people on low incomes will not be affected, and all charges are set through a means-tested financial assessment where no one will be asked to pay more than they can afford under national rules.
If approved by cabinet in December, the new charging policy will take effect from April 1 2026.