b'Chapter 14 Social Care Main charging powers 14.1 Imposing or requiring charges or fees for the provision of social services is always likely to be a controversial step for authorities to take. The persons upon whom the charges are levied are likely, by definition, to be amongst the most disadvantaged members of society. This guide can do no more than indicate the main charging powers contained in the various statutory provisions. Prior to the coming into force of the Care Act 2014 (the 2014 Act), and the publication of the Care and Support Statutory Guidance (CASS Guidance) in October 2014, there were two separate sources of charging guidance for local authorities: the Fairer Charging Policies for Home Care and other Non-residential Social Services, Guidance for Councils with Social Services Responsibilities (June 2013), and the Charging for Residential Accommodation Guide (CRAG) (April 2014). Under the Care Act 2014, the rules regarding charging for care services have now been unified into a single statutory code. The Department of Health has now confirmed that the currency of both sets of guidance referred to above came to an end on 1 April 2015, and that no further versions of these documents will be produced (see http://www.local.gov.uk/documents/10180/5756320/Frequently+asked+questions+on+charging+for+care/cf3273f2-dd3a-4a60-8dfa-e30eb11e507d). The key statutory provisions that deal with local authority charges for care services are now: sections 14, 17, 26, 30, 34, 35 and 6970 of the Care Act 2014; sections 15 and 16 (relating to caps on care costs), s 29 (care accounts), and s 36. (alternative financial arrangements) of the Care Act 2014 have been enacted, but not yet brought into force; the Care and Support (Charging and Assessment of Resources) Regulations 2014 (SI 2014/2672); the Care and Support and After-care (Choice of Accommodation) Regulations 2014; the Care and Support (Deferred Payment) Regulations 2014. In addition to these statutory provisions the relevant parts of the CASS Guidance (last updated in December 2016 at the time of writing) are as follows: Chapter 8: Charging and financial assessment. Chapter 9: Deferred payment agreements. Annex A: Choice of accommodation and additional payments. 142'