Paying For Care & Support
Care services at home aren’t usually free. How much you need to pay for care and support at home depends on a number of factors, including your income and savings. Find out how to arrange care and support, how much you may have to pay, and what financial support is available.
If you’re having trouble with everyday tasks such as washing, cooking or getting dressed, ask your local council for a care needs assessment. This works out what would help you stay independent at home for longer. With your permission, your carer, GP, or district nurse can refer you for an assessment on your behalf.
If you’re being discharged from hospital, the staff on your ward can arrange an appropriate package of care to make sure you’re safe and properly supported at home, or to help rehabilitate you.
If you intend on paying privately, you can contact our team directly.
Make sure you’re claiming all the benefits you’re entitled to.
- Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people over State Pension age who need extra help to stay independent at home, due to an illness or disability.
- If you’re under State Pension age, you may be eligible for Personal Independence Payment instead
- If you have a carer, they could be eligible for Carer’s Allowance.
These benefits aren’t means-tested, so don’t take into account your income and savings.
If you’re paying fees yourself (called self-funding) and your capital reaches less than £23,250, the local council may assist with funding. You should request an assessment a few months before that happens as they will have to agree you need a package of care.
They should arrange one as soon as possible so you don’t have to use up your capital below that amount.
You may think about giving away some of your savings, income or property to avoid paying likely care costs, and to give something to your relatives or charity, for example.
If the council thinks that you have done this to avoid paying care fees they may still assess you as if you still had the money or property that you have given away. This is referred to as deprivation of assets.
Social care financial assessments
Social Care Means Test
Here’s how the means test for social care will look at your income and savings, and how this will affect what you pay for care.
| Your capital | What you will have to pay |
| Over £23,250 | You have to pay your own fees as a ‘self-funder’ |
| Between £14,250 and £23,250 | You qualify for financial support from the council and pay a contribution from your income – such as pensions – plus a ‘tariff income’ based on your capital. This ‘tariff income’ is worked out by assuming you have an extra £1 per week in income for every £250 (or part of) you have between £14,250 and £23,250 in capital. |
| Less than £14,250 | The council provides financial support and you will still contribute from your income, but you won’t have to pay a tariff income. |
Certain types of income, such as money from certain disability benefits and pensions, may not be counted in the means test. This is the same for certain types of capital. All other income and capital can be taken into account.
If all your eligible income is taken into account in your means test, you must be left with an income of £189.00 per week, if you’re single and above Pension Credit qualifying age. This is known as the Minimum Income Guarantee.
If you’re eligible for financial support to pay for home care, your local council can arrange home care services for you. Alternatively, you can choose to receive direct payments and arrange home care yourself.
The Cost Of Care
If you’re paying fees yourself (called self-funding), then you can arrange your own care. However, if you would prefer that your local council arranged this for you then they must do so, as long as you have eligible care needs. There may be an arrangement fee.