A plain-English guide to the funding options available to you right now — from council support and benefits to NHS Continuing Healthcare
When someone you care about needs more support, one of the first questions is often: "How are we going to pay for this?" Care funding can feel complicated because different organisations assess different things. The important first step is to understand which routes may apply before making major decisions.
Contact the adult social care team at the person's local council and ask for a Care Needs Assessment. This looks at what the person needs help with in everyday life. It is about care needs, not how much money they have.
Do not skip the Care Needs Assessment simply because someone has savings or owns their home. Understanding the person's needs can help you make better decisions about the type and level of care required.
If the council identifies eligible care and support needs, it may carry out a Financial Assessment, sometimes called a means test. This looks at the person's financial circumstances to work out whether the council may contribute and what the person may be expected to pay.
Different rules can apply depending on whether care is being provided at home or in a care home. Ask the council to explain its decision in writing.
For care arranged by a local authority in England, financial support is means-tested. The capital thresholds can change, so check the current figures with the local council or GOV.UK before making decisions.
| Capital position | What it may mean |
|---|---|
| Above the upper capital limit | The person will generally be expected to meet the full cost of their care from their own resources. |
| Between the lower and upper limits | The person may receive some council support but will normally be expected to contribute. |
| At or below the lower limit | Capital below the lower limit is generally disregarded, although income may still be taken into account. |
NHS Continuing Healthcare is different from means-tested council funding. It is an NHS-funded package of ongoing care for adults who are assessed as having a primary health need. Eligibility depends on the person's assessed needs, not simply on a diagnosis or their finances.
You can ask professionals involved in the person's care whether CHC should be considered, including:
If the person's condition is deteriorating rapidly and they may be approaching the end of life, ask whether the Fast Track pathway should be considered.
Someone who does not qualify for full NHS Continuing Healthcare may still be eligible for NHS-funded Nursing Care if they live in a care home that provides registered nursing care and have assessed nursing needs. The NHS contribution is towards registered nursing care and does not normally cover the entire care-home fee.
Ask the care home how any NHS-funded Nursing Care payment is reflected in its fees so you understand what is included.
Benefits can be overlooked when families are concentrating on arranging care. Depending on individual circumstances, it may be worth checking:
Entitlement depends on individual circumstances, and some benefits can be affected by publicly funded care. Check the current rules before relying on a benefit as part of a care budget.
If the council is contributing towards care-home costs, ask what amount has been included in the person's personal budget and what suitable options are available. If a preferred home costs more, an additional top-up may sometimes be involved.
Before agreeing to any top-up, ask:
Do not agree to an ongoing top-up without understanding the longer-term commitment.
Property and care funding can be particularly complicated. Do not assume that owning a property automatically means it must immediately be sold.
If you are considering selling, transferring or changing ownership of property because of care fees, seek appropriate professional legal and financial advice before taking action.
Funding decisions can involve several organisations and a surprising amount of paperwork. Keep copies of:
Record who you spoke to, when you spoke to them and what was agreed. Good records can make things much easier if circumstances change or you need to query a decision.
Golden Transitions provides independent practical guidance, helps families understand the questions to ask, organise information and navigate the next steps. Where specialist advice is needed, we signpost to the appropriate council, NHS service or qualified professional.
Use the Golden Transitions Funding Checklist alongside this guide to gather the information you may need and keep track of questions and decisions.
This guide provides general information for people arranging adult care in England. Funding arrangements differ across the UK and individual circumstances vary. Golden Transitions provides independent guidance, practical support and signposting. We do not provide legal, financial, medical or regulated financial advice. Funding rules and thresholds can change, so confirm current information with the relevant local authority, NHS service or appropriately qualified professional before making significant decisions.