Paying for your care and support

Paying for care and support in a residential or nursing care home

We wants to help residents live in their own home as independently as possible. We have a range of help and support available to enable this to happen. For some people this is not always possible and 24-hour support is required. In these cases, a move to a residential or nursing care home may be arranged.

How am I assessed?

If you, or someone you know is considering moving into a care home, you can ask the Council for support. Alternatively you can make your own arrangements.

If you go into a care home with support from the Council you will need to have had a Care Assessment. This will be completed by a Social Worker. If your care and support needs are best met within a care home then this choice will be given to you.

A placement can be arranged on a temporary basis (for up to 52 weeks) if you plan to return home. Please note that this would become permanent after the 52nd week.

If you are being cared for at home, you could go into a care home for a short period of time. This is to give your carer a break from their caring role.

Will I have to pay for my care?

If you are concerned about paying for the full cost of the residential or nursing care home you can contact the council to be assessed for financial support. Most people moving into a care home will have to contribute towards the cost of their care. However, you will not be asked to pay towards your care if your placement falls under one of three categories:

  • the NHS is paying for your care home in full. This is called Continuing NHS Health Care
  • your care is part of a package of Intermediate Care where you are having short term therapy or treatment
  • you are receiving care under section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983

If you do have to pay towards the cost of your care, how much you contribute will depend on the value of your:

  • savings
  • income
  • assets

How much will it cost?

You will be asked to complete a financial assessment form and provide evidence of your:

  • income or benefits
  • capital
  • assets

This will enable us to calculate how much you may need to contribute towards the cost of your care. You will have to pay the full cost of your care if:

  • your savings and assets, including the value of any property owned, are more than £23,250
  • your weekly income is more than the cost of your care home

We will ignore the value of your home if the property is occupied by:

  • your husband, wife or partner
  • a relative who is over 60 and is incapacitated
  • a dependent child
  • someone who gave up their home to come and live and care for you

If these points do not apply to you, the amount you contribute will depend on how much:

  • money you receive every week
  • you have in savings and other assets

This will usually be all of your income, minus a personal allowance which is currently £30.15 per week.

Example

Mrs Smith has been offered a place in a care home that costs £595 per week. She receives:

  • a retirement pension of £115.95 a week
  • Pension Credit (the guaranteed part not the savings part) of £66.65.

Mrs Smith’s income total is £182.60. The weekly personal allowance of £30.15 leaves £152.45 income.

Mrs Smith will therefore pay £152.45 a week towards the cost of the care home. The balance of £442.55 a week for the care home will be paid by the council.

Will my state benefits be affected when I go into a care home?

Your benefits may be affected when you go into a care home. You should contact the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) for advice as soon as you go into the care home to avoid being overpaid.

You can contact them on:

  • 0800 99 1234
  • textphone 0800 169 0133

Please see the ‘Benefits in a Care Home’ factsheet for more information on state benefits when you go into a care home.

What happens if I own a property?

If you are a homeowner going into a care home on a temporary basis and intend to return to your home in the community then the value of your property will not be taken into account in your financial assessment. If you own more than one property, the value of any other land or property will be considered as capital.

If you are moving into a care home permanently, then your property will not be included in the financial assessment for the first 12 weeks. This is called the 12-week property disregard.

What is Funded Nursing Care?

If you are assessed as needing Nursing care but do not meet the criteria for Continuing Healthcare, you may still be entitled to a Funded Nursing Care contribution (annually set) towards the cost of the care. If the Council arranges your care, this will be paid directly to the care home. If you arrange the care yourself, this will be paid direct to you.

What if I am only going into the home for a short period of time?

This may be for a short break for either you or your carer for up to eight weeks. It may also be in response to an emergency situation. If the short stay is for a break for your carer, then there will be no charge for the duration of the break. For other stays, we will work out how much you have to pay in the same way as if your stay was permanent.

However, we will not take the value of your home into account and you may have a number of on-going expenses in relation to your home which may be considered. Examples include:

  • mortgage payments
  • utility bills

Will the Council arrange my care with the care home?

The Council will arrange the care in the care home that you choose, so long as:

  • it is suitable in relation to your assessed needs
  • it is available
  • the person in charge of the home is willing to provide a place subject to usual terms and conditions for such accommodation
  • the cost of the placement is within your personal budget calculated by your needs assessment (or there is a third party willing and able to pay the additional cost or ‘top up’ payments)

What are additional costs and ‘top-up’ payments?

Some care homes charge more than others so if you find a care home where the fees are higher than your personal budget. As a result, a family member will normally have to agree to pay the additional costs. If this is the case, the Council can arrange the placement providing that:

  • a “Third Party” such as a relative, friend or charity is willing and able to meet the shortfall; or
  • you, as the resident, have a property that is being disregarded for 12 weeks or you have a deferred payment agreement and can pay the additional costs from the equity in the property

Any resident or “Third Party” wishing to make a contribution/top-up to meet the shortfall for more expensive accommodation will need to confirm they have the resources to be able to continue making the top-up for the duration of the stay in the care home.

If I am married or living with a partner, will you include their income when you work out how much I have to pay?

If you are married or living with a partner and you go into a care home on your own, we will only assess your financial resources. Even if both you and your partner are going into care together, we will assess your finances individually. We will work out how much you will each have to contribute towards the cost of your own care.

When will my charges start from?

The cost of your care will start to be charged from the day you move into the care home.

How do I pay for my care?

You will be asked to pay your contribution towards your care from the date when the Council starts to pay the care home for your placement.

You will be sent an invoice every four or five weeks detailing how much you have to pay. The easiest way to pay for your care is by setting up a direct debit.

If you have an absence away from the care home such as a hospital stay, you will still need to pay a contribution during this time. This is because the Council will continue to pay the home to keep the room available for when you return.

What happens if I dispose of my savings and capital?

If someone has disposed of savings, capital or income in order to avoid or reduce their contribution towards the cost of their care, the Council will treat that person as still having that asset. The Council would also reserve the right to take Legal action against that person or any person receiving the asset.

Disposing of assets can include:

  • transferring the title deeds of a property to someone else
  • spending money on valuable possessions such as jewellery or paintings
  • making large gifts to friends and relatives
  • paying off other people's debts

When deciding whether someone has deprived themselves of an asset to avoid paying care costs, the Council will take into consideration:

  • the reason for disposal
  • the date when it took place
  • whether the person was aware that they would need care in the foreseeable future

It will be for the person to prove that they no longer own the asset and to satisfy the Council that the disposal was not done to avoid paying for care.

What happens if I don't pay?

If you don't pay your contribution we may take recovery action. This may involve legal proceedings, the costs of which you may be required to pay.

Where can I get further information?

The information given on this page is for guidance only. It does not replace the Care Act 2014.

For more detailed information, especially around what happens if you own a property, the types of income that are taken into account and top-up arrangements, you can:

  • contact the Financial Assessments Team on 01702 215008 (option 2)
  • send us an email

You can also request a copy of the information on this page.

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