Paying for social care
Unlike many NHS services, most support from the council for your care needs is usually not free.
Following your assessment, and assuming you are eligible to receive help from us, we will ask you to complete a financial assessment. This is so we can conduct a ‘means test’ and work out how much, if anything, you will have to pay towards your care and support. This is often called ‘your contribution’.
Based on your financial assessment, we may then also contribute towards the cost of your care if your circumstances mean you are not able to pay for all of it.
However, we will not contribute if:
- you have savings or assets (for example property) over £23,250
- you choose not to tell us about all of your financial assets
- you choose not to have a financial assessment
If you are not eligible for financial support from the council, you will need to pay for your care and support services yourself. People who are not eligible for financial support are known as ‘self-funding’. Self-funders are still entitled to information and advice from us.
For more information and guidance
- Visit the paying for support pages on People First
- Visit the cost of care and eligibility pages on the Consumers Association ‘Which?’ website