You may have to argue this with the authorities concerned. Finally, section 117 says that the authorities can stop your aftercare when they believe you no longer need it. Their circumstances were slightly different, but they were all in receipt of section 117 aftercare- and had all been charged for it, particularly for their accommodation. Two of them had been directed to live at a particular address as a condition of their discharge, and not surprisingly objected to paying. In other words, a right to services under section 117 is in addition to entitlement under community care legislation and should be considered separately.
Local councils can only charge for a service where they are specifically authorised to do so.
As there is no reference to charging in section 117,since the judge declared it was freestanding the councils could not charge for aftercare. Aftercare means what it says - the services someone needs for their care after leaving hospital. Aftercare begins when you actually leave the hospital- even if you are living at home on leave and may be recalled back to hospital under your section. However, the judge left some issues still unclear. In particular, he did not clarify when aftercare ends.