Find out how to get help to pay for your residential care.
How it works
If you've had a
needs assessment that shows you need to live in a care home or nursing home, you might get help to pay for it.
If your savings and investments are less than £23,250, you could qualify for help to pay.
Check if you're likely to qualify External link.
If you’ve been arranging care privately and your savings and investments will fall below £23,250 within three months, you should
contact us.
How to qualify
To see if you qualify for help to pay, you will need a
financial assessment.
The financial assessment will work out how much you can afford to pay towards your care each week. If this amount is not enough, you may qualify for help to pay for your care.
See
examples of how we work out what people pay.
You will not qualify for help to pay if:
- your financial assessment shows you can afford to pay for all of your care yourself
- you choose to arrange your care privately
- you choose not to have a financial assessment or do not give us the information we need
Who does not pay at all
Almost everyone is responsible for their own care home costs.
You are not responsible for care costs, and will not need a financial assessment, if:
- your care has been arranged and provided under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (and your care fees are within the negotiated rate)
- you are temporarily put in a community bed funded by the NHS
- your stay in a care home is transitional and will not last for more than four weeks (and your care fees are within the negotiated rate)
- you qualify for full
NHS Continuing Health Care Funding
What is the negotiated rate?
The council will have negotiated with your care home and agreed a special rate for the cost of your care. The council will only help to pay for fees up to this amount.
If something changes and you no longer qualify for NHS Continuing Health Care Funding, you will need to start paying for your care, and you will need a financial assessment review.
