A NEW charging policy for non-residential social services in the borough will help the needy and less well off, according to St Helens Council.

The council has agreed a new sliding scale of charges which will be brought in during October, November and December.

These will be means-tested for the first time in accordance with new Government guidelines. Services for people on low incomes, and those with disabilities, will have either free care services or will pay less.

Charges will increase for some people with higher incomes and savings but, for the majority of people, the maximum charge will be £55 per week.

Director of social services, Sue Lightup, said: "The charges are more fair than before and are charges more closely linked to people's ability to pay and to the level of services provided.

"While some people will be asked to pay more, the charges are comparable with those levied by other councils across the North West for some time.

"The council has consulted with service users as well as voluntary and community groups and have incorporated a number of their suggestions into the new policy."

All users will receive an individual financial assessment to determine their new charge. At the same time benefits will be checked to see if there is any income that they have not claimed which they are entitled to.

Non-residential social services include domiciliary care, day care, meals on wheels and transport.

The new charges for these services will be: domiciliary care £5.50 per hour; day care £10 per day; day centre transport £1 per journey; meals on wheels £2 per meal.