Definition
A twelve week period when a local council must not include the value of a person’s main or only home in a financial assessment to calculate how much the person can afford to pay towards the cost of their care and support.
Charging arrangements for care and support aim to make sure people don’t have to sell their home at a time of crisis. The 12-week disregard gives people time to decide how to meet their contribution towards the cost of their care and support.
The 12-week disregard applies when:
a) the person first moves in to a care home on a permanent basis, or
b) when a separate property disregard ends unexpectedly.
Local councils may also choose to apply the 12-week disregard if there is a sudden change to the person’s financial circumstances.