For people with eligible care and support needs (who are not receiving services under Section 117), any service provided (except where there is eligibility for Continuing Health Care or an NHS funded personal health budget) is chargeable and the person must undergo a financial assessment.

Aftercare services provided under s117 are non-chargeable therefore a financial assessment is not required. It may however be required for services outside the scope of s117 aftercare or 'top-up' to accommodation costs.

S117 aftercare services can be provided through a direct payment. Further information can be found in the direct payments section of the Practice Guide. For Islington, further information can be found on Islington Council's website.

The Care Act also allows a person to top up the cost of their care under s117 should they wish to select a provider of their choice whose costs exceed their assessed need, as defined by the local authority, and cost of their care. Further information for Camden can be found within the Paying for Care section of the Practice Guide.  Further information for Islington can be found in their Paying Care webpage. 

Top-ups are not permissible with NHS funded personal health budgets, except for in particular cases, such as people accessing wheelchairs.