Deferred Payment Agreements, 2023-24

A deferred payment agreement (DPA) is an arrangement with the local authority that enables people to use the value of their homes to help pay for care home costs. If eligible, the local authority will help to pay a client’s care home bills on their behalf. The client can delay repaying the local authority until they choose to sell their home, or until after their death.

More information on a deferred payment scheme can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/money-work-and-benefits/paying-for-your-own-care-self-funding/

DPAs have been available from all local authorities across England since April 2015.

This publication provides analysis of the Deferred Payments Agreement (DPA) collection, and concentrates on five main areas:

1. Activity Data - the number of new and outstanding DPAs, DPAs written off, and DPAs recovered.

2. Finance Data - the value of new and outstanding DPAs, DPAs written off, and DPAs recovered.

3. New requests for DPAs and sequel to the request.

4. Nature of current DPAs.

5. Recovery of ended DPAs.

The publication consists of:

• Data tables - providing data at national, regional and local authority level.
• CSV pack - Machine readable open data (csv file), data dictionary, UUID file, DPA rates and fees.
• Data quality summary - showing submissions made, validation breaches and reasons given, calculated vs reported outstanding DPAs.
• Data quality statement – assessing the quality of the DPA collection return.

In order to prevent the disclosure of individuals, DPA data relating to client numbers have been rounded to the nearest five. Any figures 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 has also been suppressed and displayed as [c]. Monetary values of less than £10,000 have been suppressed and displayed as [c]. All other monetary values will be rounded to the nearest £10,000 in the Data Tables and csv file. Any missing data is displayed as [x], in accordance with Government Statistical Service guidelines on best practice for accessible spreadsheets. Proportions (percentages) are calculated on the unrounded figures.

Missing Data

Slough Council and Waltham Forest Council were unable to submit DPA data to NHS England in 2023-24. 

In order to present England level statistics that can be compared to previous years, NHS England added 2022-23 data for these local authorities to 2023-24 regional and national totals. Estimates are presented in the web page Key Facts and all other detailed data tables and charts at regional and national level. The detailed data tables display Slough and Waltham Forest data as [x], denoting missing data.

Issues

Several inconsistencies within the 2023-24 collection have been identified. For example, local authorities advised that 3,205 new DPAs had been agreed (this is the number we use when referring to the total number of DPAs). When analysed by whether a top-up had been provided or not, the total was 3,200. When split by the reason for the request, the total was 3,045. These values are still informative due to the additional detail provided however users should be aware of the slight discrepancy with overall numbers reported.

Using inbuilt validation checks within the data templates and post-submission data quality reports for each collection, NHS England looks to identify logical inconsistencies in the data or where the data submitted is an outlier against local and national data. Local authorities can then review and resubmit data ahead of the deadline or provide explanations for any identified issues. NHS England works with the DPA Working Group, with local authorities and with other stakeholders to ensure that the data template and the accompanying guidance document are clear to understand.

Post-pandemic local authorities continue to advise NHS England that COVID-19 is still impacting new DPAs being offered. Some parts of the process, mainly application processing and properties registered with Land Registry continue to be subject to delays.

Further detail on these data quality issues can be found in the data quality statement and summary. NHS England will continue to work with local authorities to enhance and improve the completeness and quality of the publication.
 

Comparison to previous years

We recommend caution when making year on year comparisons. For example, when considering the data collected against that submitted last year: (rounded to the nearest five).

Therefore:

The difference between calculated and reported numbers in 2021-22 was 540, in 2022-23, it was 300 and this year it has increased to 445. Local authorities reported differences and confirmed this is due to previously unreported outstanding DPAs. There were also instances of data recording issues with DPAs incorrectly left open, or incorrect recording of DPA status. Further details can be found in the supporting data quality outputs.