Quick Guide To Funding Care
Get the benefits you are entitled to
These are the simplest ways to maximise income which many older people are missing out on. These can give you more choice in being able to afford the care you want.
Key benefits to look at are
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – for those under State Pension age who need assistance with day-to-day activities or getting around due to a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability. (In Scotland it is being replaced by Adult Disability Payment)
- Attendance Allowance – for those over State Pension age who need help with personal care (or need to be supervised for safety) due to an illness or disability. (all regions)
- Carers Allowance – you may be eligible if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits. (all regions)
- Pension Credit – if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income you may be able to receive extra money that tops up your pension. (all regions)
The cost of home care varies depending on the personalised services you need and where you live in the country . If you are worried about the cost of home care, we encourage you to reach out to our helpful team at Home Instead so we can discuss funding, the benefits you could be entitled to and the type of care you could afford.
But remember, if you have received a care needs assessment and your local authority recommends a care plan, remember, you do not have to adhere to their plan. You have a right to choose your own care and how it is provided.
Below is a quick guide on the types of funding available for each area of the UK.
England
Check your eligibility for NHS Funding
NHS funding is the most difficult type of funding to get. However, should you qualify, you’re able to get your full cost of care covered.
Ask your GP for a Continuing Healthcare Checklist which is a quick screening test to see whether you are suitable for a full assessment.
Personal Health Budget
Personal health budgets are a way of personalising care, based around what matters to people and their individual strengths and needs. They give disabled people and people with long term conditions more choice, control and flexibility over their healthcare.
Local Authority care funding
Local Authorities have a duty to assess all people with care and support needs under the Care Act 2014 regardless of whether an individual may be self-funding or not. Following a needs assessment, a financial assessment will be completed to establish whether a person is entitled to funding for their care. Those with assets not exceeding £23,250 will qualify for funding towards care costs. You can request your funding as a Direct Payment which puts you in control of how you would like to spend it.
Apply for direct payments – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Self-funding care and support
If you are not able to have your care funded by the Local Authority or NHS, you can purchase your care using your liquid assets or use any of a range of financial products to help you pay for your care including equity release
What is equity release? | Age UK
Wales
Check your eligibility for NHS Funding
CHC is a complete package of ongoing care arranged and funded solely by the NHS through local health boards (LHBs), where an individual’s primary need has been assessed as health-based.
NHS Continuing Healthcare – The National Framework for Implementation in Wales (gov.wales)
Local Authority care funding
Local Authorities have a duty to assess all people with care and support needs under the Social Services and Wellbeing Act (Wales) 2014.
You may have to pay up to a maximum of £100 a week if:
- You have a high level of disposable income
- You have savings and investments over £24,000, not including the value of your home.
In deciding charges for non-residential care, local authorities must allow you to keep a set amount to help you meet your daily living costs.
You can work with the local authority to decide how your care and support needs will be met using direct payments. You can decide who provides that support and control how, where and when it is delivered.
Information about Direct Payments can be found here Direct Payments: A Guide | Social Care Wales
Self-funding care and support
If you are not able to have your care funded by the Local Authority or NHS, you can purchase your care using your liquid assets or use any of a range of financial products to help you pay for your care including equity release.
What is equity release? | Age UK
Scotland
Check your eligibility for NHS Funding
In Scotland personal and nursing care may be an option to enable you to live safely and comfortably at home.
To find out if you are eligible for health or nursing care funding you need to contact your local authority for an assessment of your needs.
Adults with healthcare needs will be required to contribute towards the funding of their social care and accommodation, either through eligibility for local authority funding or by their own means. The adult still has the option of applying for the Free Personal and Nursing Care allowance to go towards the cost of their care.
More information can be found at Home | Care Information Scotland (careinfoscotland.scot)
Local Authority care funding
Contact your local council’s Find My Council | Care Information Scotland (careinfoscotland.scot) for an Assessment of your care needs | Care Information Scotland (careinfoscotland.scot)
Your GP, district nurse or health visitor can also arrange one for you.
The council might have a waiting list for care assessments, so let the social care department know if you need urgent help.
Your needs will be discussed with you during a home visit, then the social care department will write to you and let you know what help you can get.
You should be advised which of the services you need are free and which would be chargeable. If chargeable, the social care department may be able to help you find someone to provide those services.
Providers of home care can include:
- your social care department
- a home care agency
Carers Scotland provide information about assessments Factsheet_S1020__Assessments_-_guide_to_getting_help.pdf (carersuk.org)
Self-Directed Support
Although direct payments have been around for some time, councils now have a legal duty offer 4 options to people who have been assessed as needing a community care service:
- option 1 – a direct payment, which is a payment to a person or third party to purchase their own support
- option 2 – the person directs the available support
- option 3 – the local council arranges the support
- option 4 – a mix of the above
You may not eligible for all of these 4 options, but whichever option you choose, you should still be made aware of the amount of your budget.
Information on these options can be found at Self Directed Support Scotland (SDSS) – Self Directed Support Scotland (sdsscotland.org.uk)
Self-funding care and support
Age Scotland have a useful practical guide to arranging and funding care found here
If you are not able to have your care funded by the Local Authority or NHS, you can purchase your care using your liquid assets or use any of a range of financial products to help you pay for your care including equity release
What is equity release? | Age UK
Northern Ireland
Check your eligibility for NHS Funding
Most people have to pay something towards the care they receive. But some people with ongoing significant health needs can get their care paid for through a scheme called NHS continuing healthcare.
To get NHS continuing healthcare you must:
- have ongoing significant health needs, and
- require care primarily because of the nature of your health needs
The assessment process starts with the completion of a checklist by a nurse or a social worker trained to complete it. The checklist identifies what your needs are and shows whether you need to have a full NHS continuing healthcare assessment.
More information can be found here NHS continuing healthcare | Free care for people with significant health needs | Age UK
Local Authority care funding
The Health & Social Care Trust in your area can provide services to help you. You can find your HSCT here Health and Social Care Trusts
A health and social care assessment with the social services department of your local trust is often the first step towards getting the help and support you need. The assessment is an ‘assessment of need’.
Direct Payments
Direct payments are local Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust payments for people who have been assessed as needing help from social services, and who would like to arrange and pay for their own care and support services instead of receiving them directly from the local trust.
Self-funding care and support
If you are not able to have your care funded by the HSCT, you can purchase your care using your liquid assets or use any of a range of financial products to help you pay for your care including equity release
Other benefits
You may also be entitled to several benefits such as:
–Council Tax discounts for people with dementia
–Free TV licence (over 75)
–Blue Badge (Disabled Parking Permit)
-Free or discounted public transport
There are a range of other benefits that you could be entitled to. Take a look at this information provided by Age UK or look at their Benefits Calculator.
Cost of home care
Often paying for your care can feel daunting, but we have years of experience helping people find the best care plan for their needs and budget, so feel free to reach out for a friendly chat.