Paying for care at home: assessments, charges and help

Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.

Care at home is arranged through a free needs assessment from your council, followed by a means test that decides how much you pay. The rules differ in each UK nation: Scotland provides personal care free, Wales caps the weekly charge, and in England the amount depends on your income and savings.

Step one: the needs assessment

Contact the adult social care department of your council (in Northern Ireland, your local Health and Social Care Trust) and ask for a care needs assessment. You can ask for yourself or for someone else with their agreement. It is free and does not depend on your finances.

Someone, often a social worker or occupational therapist, will talk to you about what you find difficult: washing, dressing, cooking, getting about, managing medicines. Be frank about bad days, as you would on an Attendance Allowance form. Have a relative or friend with you if you can.

If you are assessed as needing support, you get a written care plan. Equipment such as rails and bath seats may be provided without charge: see home adaptations.

Step two: the financial assessment

The council then looks at your income and savings to decide what you contribute. For care in your own home, the value of the home you live in is not counted. You should always be left with a minimum amount of income to live on.

England

At the time of writing (November 2026), the government circular for 2026 to 2027 keeps the capital limits at £23,250 (upper) and £14,250 (lower). With savings above the upper limit you normally pay for all your care. Below the lower limit, your savings are ignored and you pay only from income. In between, you pay a contribution from your savings as well. Each council sets its own charging policy within these rules, so ask for a copy.

Scotland

Personal care is free for adults assessed by the council as needing it, whatever their income or savings. Personal care means help with things like washing, dressing, eating and using the toilet. Nursing care is also free. Other help, such as housework, shopping or a community alarm, can still be charged for under your council's own policy. Scotland's care information site also says you may get free support at home for a period after leaving hospital. See Care Information Scotland and our guide for over-60s in Scotland.

Wales

The Welsh Government sets a maximum weekly charge of £100 for care and support at home, at the time of writing (November 2026), however much care you receive. You may pay less, or nothing, depending on your means. See charging for social care on GOV.WALES and our guide for over-60s in Wales.

Northern Ireland

Care is arranged by your Health and Social Care Trust after an assessment of need. Much community care is provided without charge, but Trusts can charge for some services, and nidirect notes there is normally a charge for meals delivered at home. Ask your Trust in writing what, if anything, you will pay. Start at arranging health and social care on nidirect.

Direct payments: arranging your own care

If the council is funding some or all of your care, you do not have to accept the service it arranges. You can ask for a direct payment: the money is paid to you (or to someone managing it for you) to buy your own care, for example by choosing your own agency or employing a personal assistant. In Scotland this is one of four options under "self-directed support".

NHS continuing healthcare

If your needs are mainly about health rather than social care, the NHS may pay for the whole care package. In England this is called NHS continuing healthcare. It is not means-tested and can be provided at home or in a care home.

Eligibility depends on how complex, intense and unpredictable your needs are, not on a particular diagnosis.
A professional first completes a checklist. If that suggests you may qualify, a team carries out a full assessment.
If someone is deteriorating quickly and nearing the end of life, a fast-track route can put care in place much sooner.

Many people are turned down, and decisions can be challenged. The NHS guide to continuing healthcare explains the process. Wales and Northern Ireland have their own versions; Scotland uses a different system based on hospital care, so ask your health board.

Paying for care yourself

If you are over the savings limit, you can arrange care privately. Even so:

Have the free needs assessment first, so you buy the right help.
Claim Attendance Allowance. It is not means-tested.
Check that a home care agency is registered with the care regulator for your nation and read its latest inspection report. The regulators are listed in choosing a care home.
Tell the council before your savings fall near the limit, so funding can start without a gap.

Watch out: Giving away savings or property to get under the limits can backfire. Councils can treat you as still having the money if they decide you gave it away to avoid care charges. Take advice from Age UK or a solicitor before making gifts.

Common questions

Will my home be counted if I have care at home?

No. The value of the home you live in is not included in the means test for care in your own home.

What if I disagree with the council's decision?

Ask for the decision and the reasons in writing, then use the council's complaints procedure. If that does not resolve it, you can go to the ombudsman for your nation. Citizens Advice and Age UK can help.

Is there a limit on the total I can be charged?

In Wales there is a weekly maximum for care at home. In England there is no weekly or lifetime cap at the time of writing (November 2026); a planned cap on care costs was cancelled.