Several protests have been staged since the changes were announced

Assessments are starting to take place to determine how much people will pay but campaigners said some face a rise from �4 per week to �11 an hour.

An action group has convinced Fife Council to begin an impact study but the authority has refused to await its outcome before introducing the charge.

Campaign Against Charges said the study was simply "to make the charge lawful".

The charge has been branded illegal because it is being introduced without any research into the effects it could have on the people who will pay it.

Special needs

Campaign Against Charges, which has collected a 2,500 signature petition, believes the change will hit some of the most vulnerable people in Fife and they fear that some hard-up users will choose to cancel the service.

Home carers visit people with disabilities or special needs and help them with jobs like washing, dressing and cooking.

Fife Council's SNP/Lib Dem coalition has introduced the change to meet a shortfall within the social services budget. Leaders have said they needed to claw back about �500,000.

But in a four page letter to councillors, Campaign Against Charges accused the authority of introducing a "tax on disability".