I work as a Cost Draftsman but we are having terrible difficulty in getting a definitive answer regarding FAS in High Cost Case Plans.
We have had various emails from the LSC giving us contradicting information. The most recent information tells us that we should use FAS unless the contract is agreed using the hourly rates. This applies if the plan is submitted to the South Tyneside office. Other offices may have a different policy!
This means that we have to prepare an HCCP using Claim1a's or using a Claim1 with the FAS page from Claim1a accompanying it. Once that is done the LSC will decide whether it works out cheaper to use FAS or hourly rates and then depending on that outcome we may have to redo the Case Plan at extra expense.
Why can't the LSC just make their minds up?!
Has anyone else had this problem and what do you do about it?
The new family contract (link to copy below) states under 10.103, Advocacy Services are also excluded from the FAS where they are provided: (a) under an Individual Case Contract for a Very High Cost Case
Receiving contradictory information from the LSC is nothing new, you could ask the same question on 5 different days and get 5 different answers (that is if you can get to speak to them).
