DPA004 – Nature of the DPA

DPA004 covers information about state and individual contributions to a Deferred Payment Agreement (DPA) the total number of outstanding DPAs at end of year (31 March), and the distribution of weekly value of the DPA. The following data tables are recorded

Table 4a State and individual contributions to DPA records.

There are three categories used in this table:

• DPA for full cost of residential or nursing home – Following a means test the client is a self funder, and has agreed a DPA for the full costs of their care.
• user contributing from income to cost of care – As with the above the client is a self funder, is contributing to the costs of their care from their income . For example a client may pay part of their care costs from rental income or income from a pension, and the remainder is deferred under the DPA.
• Local Authority (LA) contributing to cost of care through the means test – Following a means test the client is entitled to some LA funding to partially cover care costs, and therefore are not classed as self funders. The LA pays part of the clients care costs, and the individual has deferred the remaining care costs.

Table 4b Distribution of weekly value of DPAs as of 31st March 2024.

Data is recorded split by weekly values of less than £300, £300 - £400, £400 - £500 and more than £500.

Both tables in DPA004 are split by the age bands 18 to 64 and 65 and over.

Table 4A bandings – examples for each case

• DPA for full cost of residential or nursing home place: in this case, the person is a self- funder (i.e. the person is not receiving support in paying for their care from the local authority) and is fully deferring all of their care costs (and making no contribution from income). This might arise if, for example, their weekly income is below the disposable income allowance (£144 per week) and the person has chosen to retain all of their income rather than contributing to the cost of their care.
• user contributing from income to costs of care: the person is a self-funder (i.e. the person is not receiving support in paying for their care from the local authority) and is partially meeting the cost of their care from their income, and deferring an additional amount. This might arise if, for example, their weekly income is above the disposable income allowance (£144 per week) or the person has chosen to use their income to contribute to the cost of their care.
• LA contributing to cost of care through means test: the person qualifies for some local authority support and is deferring the amount they would otherwise be paying in tariff income and/or other charges.

LA contributing to cost of care through means test” in DPA004, table 4a

Is this category expected to be minimal due to it being unlikely that an applicant with property assets would qualify for support through a means test?

Yes, in the current policy environment, it is expected that there will be minimal cases in Table 4a of DPA004 that would be counted in the column LA contributing to cost of care through the means test.