Disability Related Expenditure Information & Focus Groups

If you - or someone you support - receives care services from Sutton Council and if you pay for this care, you may have heard about some potential changes in the amount you will need to pay from 7 April 2025. These changes will affect people receiving the higher rate of Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment.

It is no secret that Sutton Carers Centre disagrees with the changes made to this Council Charging Policy. But given that the decision has been made, we want to ensure that Carers, their families and friends have the best chance of filling in the forms fully and accurately. This includes taking into account the real costs of living or caring for someone with a disability.

As part of these changes, Sutton Council are encouraging people to understand and claim for any applicable Disability Related Expenditure (DRE) when completing Financial Assessments for care. Information about DREs can be confusing so some information sessions and workshops around DREs are being organised in February which are noted below, along with the information which has been sent out by post by LBS.

General information on paying for care provided by Sutton Council is available here. For queries around how these changes will affect you call the Financial Assessment team on 0208 770 5280 or email fapd@sutton.gov.k

Will you be affected by the new Charging Policy? Below is a copy of the easy-read details, but we have provided links to book onto the upcoming Focus groups:

DRE Information Sessions

These sessions are open to everybody and there will be an opportunity to raise individual concerns.

No need to book in advance, just turn up or join as follows:

1. Monday February 10th, 11am -1pm at Sutton Central Library

2. Tuesday February 11th, 11am - 1pm online - click: meet.google.com/xog-pacj-mww

   
   

DRE Workshops

Following the information sessions, workshops will be held to look at how the information about DREs can be made clear and accessible, and to answer any further questions:

Book in advance (spaces are limited) for the following sessions:

1. Age UK (for older people and Carers)

   • Thursday February 13th, 10 - 11.30am

2. Sutton Carers Centre (for Carers)

   • Thursday February 13th, 2 - 3.30pm

3. Nickel Support (for people with a learning Disability and Carers)

   • Friday February 14th, 10 - 11.30am

To book: call 020 8770 6899 or complete the booking form here.

You can view the leaflets and information supplied by LBS below and information on DREs can also be found on the LBS website here.

Click to expend and view each page of the 'Easy to read' information sent out by post.

Click to expend and view each page of the DRE leaflet.