Decision details

A review of the appropriateness of continuing to use those published, national minimum MIG rates in Dorset will be presented in accordance with the Care Act 2014 statutory guidance. The review will consider option for MIG rates that are equal to, and greater than, the national minimum rates.

Cabinet agreed that: -

(i)             the Dorset Minimum Income Guarantees (MIG) for financial year 2022/23 should be set at the DH&SC MIG rates, which have been uplifted by 3%.

(ii)            the approach to the review in Dorset, (which began in October 2021) involved first establishing that the MIG rates for 2021-22 were sufficiently robust.

(iii)          Dorset Council should not set a maximum percentage of a person’s disposable income (over and above the guaranteed MIG) which may be considered in charging during 2022-23.

(iv)          Dorset Council should not set a maximum charge for receiving care outside a care home during 2022-23.

(v)           both formal complaints and informal appeals concerning the MIG should be recorded and reported in a way that gives us ongoing feedback about whether the MIG rates we have set have are sufficient.

(vi)          The Dorset MIG rates should be increased whenever the DH&SC rates increase, with any unplanned mid-year increases being funded by efficiencies within the Adult Social Care directorate. Accepting that there is a financial risk to the Council

(vii)         the approach to setting the Dorset Council Personal Expenses Allowance (PEA), (which applies to residents and temporary residents in residential care) should follow the approach to setting the MIG in future, to offer consistency between care settings.

(viii)       Adult Social Care should recommend considering further increases to the MIG and PEA levels as part of setting the Council’s 2023-24 budget, and annually thereafter as part of setting future budgets.

(ix)          Dorset Council may wish to consider the impact of the MIG and PEA in any wider suite of measures it identifies for alleviating increases in the cost of living that all residents have experienced, and particularly those who are receiving care and support.

Reason for the decision

The reason for the recommendations is to achieve transparency and more explicitly meet the expectations of the Department of Health and Social Care’s Care and support statutory guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)  - particularly paragraphs 8.42–8.48 and Annex C paragraphs 48) - 50).