Decision details

To seek a decision on whether to introduce proposed changes to the current treatment of DRE within the financial means test, as part of a person’s financial assessment.

To reduce the standard levels of DRE disregard allowed within the means test financial assessment, from £20 to £10 for a single person and from £15 to £10 if one of a couple.

The financial assessment takes into account extra expenses people may have because of their disability. The change to the standard levels allowed for disability related expenditure per week will bring this in line with the average cost of such expenditure in Leicester. Discretion will remain where people incur more than the standard amount, if they can evidence that their expenses are higher because of their disability.

This will make it fairer and will allow the Council to better reflect what people are spending and deliver services to help more people across the City.

Options considered:

-   To leave the standard levels of DRE unchanged at £20 (or £15 if one of a couple)

-   To remove standard levels & undertake individual DRE assessments for everyone