FAQs

The Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) is an amount of money set by the Government that a person must be left with to live on after their care charge is taken.  The MIG rates are set annually, and the council must ensure your income doesn’t fall below this level after care contributions.

The MIG is intended to cover daily living expenses such as:

•    food, 

•    clothes, 

•    energy bills, 

•    insurance

•    water rates

•    tv licence

•    telephone & tv subscriptions

•    leisure activities

No, the MIG is primarily for non-residential care. Different rules apply for residential or nursing home care.

The MIG applies to:

•    Adults receiving non-residential care and support funded by the local authority

•    Those assessed as needing to contribute to their care costs

In simple terms it is your ‘income’ less your living costs and any disregards which gives the maximum amount you are required to contribute towards your care. 

The amount depends on:

•    Your age

•    Whether you are single or part of a couple

•    Whether you have a disability or are a carer

Your Social Worker will assess your needs and record this in their assessment.

The financial assessment helps the council to identify any other benefits that you should be claiming and calculate your care charges.    

When the financial assessment has been completed, a statement will be is sent to you which explains how your charge has been calculated and where necessary you will receive an invoice for your contribution towards the cost of your care.

Because of a long-term health condition, you may need goods and services which incur extra costs.  These costs may be disregarded.  These are called ‘disability-related expenses’ (DRE).   

As part of your financial assessment, we will complete a financial assessment, and you should discuss any DRE and submit any evidence (such as receipts) you have.  If you are able to demonstrate a higher level of DRE, this may bring down the amount that you are asked to contribute towards your care.

Wirral uses national guidance. There are only certain items we can allow. Disability Related Expenditure can include the following:

•    special diet

•    special clothing or footwear (or extra wear and tear)

•    additional bedding

•    extra heating costs

•    extra washing or special washing powder

•    community alarms

•    internet access

•    household maintenance

•    Reasonable costs of basic gardening

•    buying and maintaining disability-related equipment

•    any day or night care which is not being arranged by the local authority

•    any transport costs (both for essential visits to the doctor or hospital, but also to keep up social contacts).

•    above average gas, electricity, water bills. For example, more heating because of a need to keep the home at above average temperature because your condition requires it.

A self-funder is someone who pays for the full cost of their care and support. This is most common where you have savings or investments adding up to over £23,250. This figure is set every year by the Government.

•    If you do not provide the information we need to complete a financial assessment we must assume you are a self-funder. 

•    If you do not have eligible care needs under the Care Act, you will have to pay the full cost of care you have arranged.

•    If you are a self-funder, you are entitled to a free assessment of your care needs. After this, the council can arrange your non-residential care and support for you.

•    Alternatively you may choose to enter into private arrangements with care providers to arrange your care.

•    While paying for your care, the amount of your savings and investments will reduce. 

This is because your income after expenses is higher than the national minimum income guarantee, therefore, you will continue to pay the amount you have previously paid.

The consultation will take place over 6 weeks – from the 01 October 2025 to the 11 November 2025.

We will write to each person in receipt of Community Care services and include a questionnaire for you to complete and return in a freepost envelope.  Alternatively you can complete the same questionnaire online at if you prefer.

For over 10 years Wirral Council has been able to offer people an additional buffer over and above the national Minimum Income Guarantee.  With the current financial situation of the council this is no longer possible.

The proposed change would remove this buffer and make the amount set aside to cover agreed living expenses for adults who receive care and support (other than in a care home) the same level as the national MIG figure when calculating your financial assessment.  The aim is to ensure contributions people make for their care is affordable and based on individual circumstances. 

This would increase the amount most people will need to contribute towards the cost of their community care services and will increase the overall income to the council.

We have a legal duty to consult with you on the changes being proposed.  The removal of the buffer that Wirral Council has provided over and above the national guidelines is what is being consulted on.

This change could increase the amount people will need to contribute towards the cost of their community care services and will increase the overall income the council receives from these contributions. 

The consultation is the chance for residents to provide feedback to the council as to the impact that removing this additional buffer will have on their financials and their health and wellbeing.

The letter sent out to you sets out your current contribution and what it could increase to if these proposals progress.   This is based on your current services, the charge for those services and your current financial assessment. 

If the proposal is progressed, before any changes are made we will complete a new financial assessment and welfare benefit review with you.

This is a consultation so no changes will be introduced at the moment.   Following the consultation, we will review the feedback and take a report to the Adults Social Care and Public Health Committee in January 2026.  

This report will provide feedback from this consultation process with recommendations for Committee to consider. 

If any changes are agreed in January this will need to go to Policy and Resources Committee for Council approval in March.

We would look to undertake a new financial assessment and welfare benefit review with you before any changes were introduced.

For most people reducing your package will not reduce the charge you are paying. If you’re paying a contribution towards the cost of your care, then reducing your package may not reduce how much you pay. This is because your assessed contribution may be lower than the actual cost of your care package.

 If you have been assessed to pay the full cost of your care, then reducing your care package will reduce the amount you pay each week.

Your care package is based on your care needs assessment and the services that are required to meet your assessed adult social care needs; therefore, you would need to discuss with your social care worker any reason for reducing your care package.