Someone needing care will be eligible to have it paid for fully or in part by the local authority if they have less than £23,250 in cash and assets (slight difference in the nations). If not eligible for funding support they will have to pay for their care – called “self-funding”.
There are ways to access funding through a variety of sources. These include:
- The state: through the benefits system.
- The local authority: responsible for delivering social care in the area (usually the county council or unitary authority).
- The NHS: which, under certain circumstances, provides funding for nursing or medical care at home or in a care home.
Some care funding is available that is not means-tested, but instead based on health or social need. This includes Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment through the benefits system, and continuing healthcare and intermediate care from the NHS.
You can use our free, no-personal details-needed care funding checker below to get an early indication as to whether the person needing care is or isn’t eligible for funding support.
Even if your family are “self-funders” (that is, paying for their own care), these options are well worth pursuing. Please note that there can be a fair amount of paperwork involved.
Whichever route you take, it is important to seek professional advice. Many organisations can help. You may wish to choose a financial adviser with expertise in this area, so we would suggest looking for an accredited practitioner through the Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA) website.
Care Funding Calculator
- 12-week disregard: For the first 12 weeks in a care home, the property value is ignored entirely.
- Deferred Payment Agreement (DPA): The council can cover fees as a loan, repaid from the property at any time — including after the person passes away.
Download our simple pdf with this information on to print and share with your family
