Understanding your home care funding options
Get help paying for care at home
Can I get free home care?
To determine whether you are eligible for funding, you’ll need to undergo two assessments: a care needs assessment and a financial assessment. Both of these assessments are free and will be carried out by your local council, or Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland (HSCNI).
If you qualify for funding for your care needs, the council must offer you a personal budget to help meet your care plan goals.
Can I take a direct payment from the local authority?
Because of limited funding and to allow the choice of who provides their care, many people decide to take a direct payment from their local authority. By making this choice, if it is available, you will be able to receive a payment instead of taking care from the council.
You can then use this funding to choose the care provider that you want to work with, not just the one that the council selects.
Can I get financial help to make my home more accessible?
If your loved one needs to make their home more accessible (or requires specialist equipment to manage daily life more safely) there may be financial support available for that, too. What you can access varies depending on where you live in the UK.
You may also be eligible for VAT relief on building work carried out due to a disability. For more details, visit the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group.
Not sure where to start?
Is home care funding available through the NHS?
The NHS can sometimes cover the cost of care for those with serious health. For ongoing medical care for those with complex health needs, you may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare.
Plus, you might qualify for up to six weeks of NHS-funded home care following a brief illness or hospital stay.
What benefits can help cover home care costs?
When you apply for an assessment through your local authority, they’ll assume you’re already accessing all the benefits you may be entitled to.
Depending on your or your loved one’s circumstances, these might include:
- Attendance Allowance – for people over State Pension age who need help due to illness or disability.
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – for people aged 16 to State Pension age with a
long-term health condition or disability.
These benefits are not means tested, so aren’t affected by your savings or income.
Helpful resources
in England
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in Scotland
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in Wales
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in Northern Ireland
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Self funding yours or your loved ones home care
If your financial assessment shows that you’re not eligible for public funding, you’re not alone. Many families choose to fund their own care, and we can still help.
We work with local financial advisors who can help you pay for your care needs. Whether it’s using savings, a pension, or exploring options like home reversion plans or equity release, we’ll connect you with professionals who can guide you through it.
