Will I have to pay?
Who has to pay?
You should seek independent financial advice to ensure your money goes as far as possible and allows you to plan and make choices for your future.
To see how much you can afford to pay we need to carry out a financial assessment to look at your income (including benefits), outgoings and savings, capital and investments.
The type of care you are receiving determines if your property is to be included in the means test.
Who has to pay for a care home place?
Paying to fund a care home placement is more complex
There is an upper-limit to the amount of money the council will pay. If you chose a care home which costs more than the council will pay, the extra cost must be met by a ‘third party top up'.
This means a relative or friend can pay the difference between the amount paid by the council and the fees charged by the care home.
Top ups can vary greatly between private care homes because they can set their own fees, but they must be affordable and reasonable. They cannot be paid from your capital or income, except in certain circumstances.
You may be able to use the value of your home to help pay towards care home fees.
The council will help to pay your care fees and you can delay repaying the council until you choose to sell your home, or until after your death. The council ensures the money you owe will be repaid by putting a legal charge on your property. This is called deferred payment.
You should seek independent financial advice to ensure your money goes as far as possible and allows you to plan and make choices for your future.
To see how much you can afford to pay we need to carry out a financial assessment to look at your income (including benefits), outgoings and savings, capital and investments.
- savings less than £14,250 will not be included in your financial assessment
- you will only be means tested on the income you receive
- savings, capital and investments above £14,250 are included in your financial assessment and means you will have to pay a contribution towards your care fees
- savings, capital and investments above £23,250 means you are not eligible for any financial support.
The type of care you are receiving determines if your property is to be included in the means test.
Who has to pay for a care home place?
Paying to fund a care home placement is more complex
There is an upper-limit to the amount of money the council will pay. If you chose a care home which costs more than the council will pay, the extra cost must be met by a ‘third party top up'.
This means a relative or friend can pay the difference between the amount paid by the council and the fees charged by the care home.
Top ups can vary greatly between private care homes because they can set their own fees, but they must be affordable and reasonable. They cannot be paid from your capital or income, except in certain circumstances.
You may be able to use the value of your home to help pay towards care home fees.
The council will help to pay your care fees and you can delay repaying the council until you choose to sell your home, or until after your death. The council ensures the money you owe will be repaid by putting a legal charge on your property. This is called deferred payment.