See how much people pay for their home support and how we work out what financial help they get.
We use a financial assessment, also known as a means test, to work out how much people should pay towards their care costs. You'll find examples of financial assessments on this page.
Example 1: Mary, 85, small pension and no savings
Example
Mary is 85. She gets a home care service of 10 hours per week. She also goes to the day centre once a week with transport for the round trip. Mary wears a Telecare Pendant alarm with an additional wrist sensor because she is at risk of falls.
Mary’s care and support costs are £287.50 every week.
She has a small pension but no savings. She qualifies for full financial assistance and does not need to pay for her care.
See how we worked this out
Her care costs
Mary’s total weekly costs are:
- 10 hours home care service at £23.91 per hour = £239.10
- one day at the older person’s day centre at £40.25 per day = £40.25
- one day’s transport to the day centre at £8.15 per day = £8.15
Mary’s total care and support costs are £287.50 every week
What she pays
Mary has no savings. Her weekly income includes:
- state pension of £169.50 per week
- pension credit of £48.65 per week
Her total weekly income is £218.15.
We will ignore up to £228.70 per week of Mary’s cost of living allowance and £9.30 per week for her Telecare monitoring. The total amount Mary can keep is £238.
Mary’s income is less than her cost of living allowance, so she qualifies for help to pay for all of her care. She will not have to pay for her care at all.
Find out more about
how we look at your money in a financial assessment.
Example 2: Frank, 92, pensions, benefits, no savings
Example
Frank is 92. He gets a home care service of 2 half hour visits per day, 7 days a week with 2 carers needed.
His care and support costs are £356.16 every week.
Frank has pensions and benefits. His financial assessment shows he can afford to pay £118.33 per week for his care, and he qualifies for help to pay the rest.
See how we worked this out
His care costs
Frank’s weekly care costs include:
- 14 hours home care service (from £23.92 per hour per carer) = £356.16
Frank’s total care and support costs are £356.16 every week.
What he pays
Income
To pay for his care, Franks weekly income includes:
- state pension of £175
- private pension of £36.71
- attendance allowance of £108.55
- pension credit of £87.94
His total weekly income is £408.20.
Costs (money we ignore)
Frank does not have to use all of his income to pay for his care. He is allowed to keep back:
- cost of living allowance of £228.70
- excess fuel allowance of £8.46
- stair lift maintenance of £7.71
- a cleaner, costing £45
The total he can keep for costs is £289.87.
Total he pays
£408.20 income − £289.87 cost allowances = £118.33.
Frank can afford to pay £118.33 per week.
What the council pays
After Franks pays £118.33, there is still £237.83 of his care costs left to pay per week. This is what the council pays.
Find out more about
how we look at your money in a financial assessment.
Example 3: Ruby, 78, pensions, benefits and £20,000 savings
Example
Ruby is 78. She gets a home care service of 5 hours per week and goes to a day centre twice a week with transport for the round trip. Her care costs £230.35 per week.
Her assessment shows she can afford up to £237.13 per week. She does not qualify for help to pay at the moment.
See how we worked this out
Her care costs
Ruby’s weekly costs are:
- 5 hours home care service at £26.71 per hour = £133.55
- 2 days at the older persons day centre at £40.25 per day = £80.50
- 2 days transport to the day centre at £8.15 per day = £16.30
Ruby's total care and support costs are £230.35 every week.
What she pays
Savings
Ruby has £20,000 in savings. Each week she must use some of her money to pay for her care and support until her savings go below £14,250. This weekly amount from her savings is known as a tariff income.
Income
Ruby’s weekly income includes:
- state pension £229.03
- private pension £115.45
- attendance allowance £108.55
- tariff income of £23 (from her £20,000 savings)
Her total weekly income is £476.03
Costs (money we ignore)
She does not have to use all of her income to pay for her care. She can keep back enough for:
- cost of living allowance £228.70 per week
- excessive laundry costs of £4.74 per week
- powered bed maintenance of £5.46 per week
The total she can keep for costs is £238.90 per week.
Total she pays
£476.03 income − £238.90 cost allowances = £237.13 per week.
Ruby can afford to pay up to £237.13 per week for her care.
Ruby’s care only costs £230.35 every week, so she can afford to pay all of it. She does not qualify for help to pay, but she might in future if her care costs get bigger.
Find out more about
how we look at your money in a financial assessment.
Example 4: Liam, 23, in supported housing with 24 hour care
Example
Liam is 23 and lives in a supported living house with 24 hour care and support. This costs £1,731.50 every week.
Liam gets benefits and has no savings. His assessment shows he qualifies for help to pay. He pays £156.31 per week for his care.
See how we worked this out
His care costs
Liam’s weekly supported living placement costs £1,731.50 every week.
How much he pays
Income
Liam’s weekly income includes:
- ESA Support Group £240.55
- PIP (Daily Living) £108.55
- PIP (Mobility) £75.75
His total weekly income is £424.85
Costs (money we ignore)
Liam does not have to use all of his income to pay for his care.
He can keep back:
- cost of living allowance £183.25 per week
- PIP (Mobility) payment of £75.75 per week
- extra clothing costs £4.80 per week
- excessive laundry costs £4.74 per week
The total he can keep for costs is £268.54 per week.
Total he pays
£424.85 income − £268.54 cost allowances = £156.31.
Liam can afford to pay £156.31 per week for his care and support.
What we pay
After Liam pays £156.31, there is still £1,575.19 of his care costs left to pay per week. This is what the council pays.
Find out more about
how we look at your money in a financial assessment.
Example 5: Jenny, 42, visits day centres 5 days a week
Example
Jenny is 42 and lives at home with her parents. She has a learning disability. Jenny goes to the day centre 5 times a week with transport for the round trip.
This costs £366.50 every week.
Jenny gets some benefits and has no savings. Her assessment shows she qualifies for help to pay. She pays £71.20 per week for her care.
See how we worked this out
Her care costs
Jenny’s weekly care and support costs include:
- 5 days at the day centre at £65.15 per day = £325.75
- 5 day’s transport to the day centre at £8.15 per day = £40.75
Jenny’s total care and support costs are £366.50 every week.
What she pays
Income
To pay for her care, Jenny’s weekly income includes:
- Universal Credit £186.84
- PIP (Daily Living) £108.55
- PIP (Mobility) £75.75
Her total weekly income is £371.14.
Costs (money we ignore)
Jenny does not have to use all of her income to pay for her care.
She can keep back:
- cost of living allowance £183.25 per week
- PIP (Mobility) £75.75 per week
- powered wheelchair maintenance £12 per week
- excessive laundry costs £4.74 per week
- housing cost allowance (because she lives with other adults) £24.20 per week
Jenny can keep back a total of £299.94 per week for costs.
Total she pays
£371.14 income − £299.94 cost allowances = £71.20.
Jenny can afford to pay £71.20 per week for her care and support.
What we pay
After Jenny pays £71.20, there is still £295.30 of her care costs left to pay per week. This is what the council pays.
Find out more about
how we look at your money in a financial assessment.
