The Department of Health is seeking views on the revision of their guidance to local authorities on the ordinary residence provisions and the draft directions on local authority responsibilities when ordinary residence disputes arise and cross-border arrangements for dealing with ordinary residence disputes between English and Welsh Authorities.

Much of the provision of community care services, for example: care home funding, help with daily living activities for people in their own home, minor aids and adaptations is determined by whether or not an individual is "ordinarily resident" in the local authority area. This is an important issue to vunerable older people because of their reliance on these services and identifying a person's place of ordinary residence is not always straightforward. Disputes between local authorities can arise, for example, when a self funding care home resident moves into another local authority's area but later becomes eligible for local authority financial help towards their fees.

The department is running the consultation from the 21st April to the 17th July 2009. The document and e-mail address for responses can be found on their website by following this link: 

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_098421