Paying for home care: your funding options explained
A plain-English guide to the main ways home care is funded in the UK, self-funding, council support, NHS Continuing Healthcare and more, so you know what to ask about before you commit to anything.
Get a Free AssessmentThere's usually more than one way to pay
Most families assume home care has to be paid for entirely out of pocket. In reality, funding can come from the council, the NHS, benefits, or a mix of these, depending on your needs and circumstances. Rules, thresholds and eligibility criteria change over time and can vary by local authority, so use this guide as a starting point and always confirm current figures with your council or GOV.UK before making decisions.
If you'd rather talk it through with a person than read about it, call our Bolton office on 01204 650 511 or our Chorley office on 01257 449 292. We can't give financial advice, but we can point you towards who can.
The main ways home care gets paid for
Self-funding
If your savings and assets are above the council's threshold, you'll pay for your own care in full. You can arrange this directly with a provider like us, or ask your council for a financial assessment to check where you stand.
Council (local authority) funding
Your council can carry out a care needs assessment and, if your savings are below their threshold, a financial assessment to work out what they'll contribute. Thresholds and rules change, so always check the current figures on GOV.UK or with your local council rather than relying on a number you've seen elsewhere.
NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)
This is different from council funding: it's fully funded by the NHS, with no means test, for people with complex, intense or unpredictable ongoing healthcare needs (not just social care needs). Eligibility is assessed using a standard "Checklist" screening tool, followed by a full assessment against a Decision Support Tool if you pass the checklist. It's a common misconception that CHC is only for care homes; it can fund care at home too.
NHS-funded Nursing Care (FNC)
A smaller, fixed weekly contribution the NHS pays towards nursing costs for people in a care home who need nursing input but don't qualify for full CHC. It doesn't apply to home care, but families researching care homes as an alternative often ask about it, so we've included it here.
Direct payments / personal budgets
If the council agrees to fund some or all of your care, you can ask to receive that money as a direct payment instead of the council arranging services for you. You then use it to pay a provider of your choice, including Jewel Home Support, giving you more control over who supports you and when.
Benefits that can help
Attendance Allowance (for those over State Pension age) and Personal Independence Payment (for working-age adults) are not means-tested and aren't affected by your savings. They're paid regardless of who provides your care and can go towards the cost of home support.
Funding questions we're often asked
Ask your GP, hospital discharge team, district nurse or social worker to arrange a CHC Checklist assessment. If it indicates you may be eligible, you'll be referred for a full multidisciplinary assessment. You can also request an assessment yourself through your local Integrated Care Board.
No. Unlike care home fees, the value of your home is not usually included in the financial assessment for care received in your own home, because you're still living in it. Rules can vary by situation, so it's worth confirming with your council's financial assessment team.
Yes. If the council funds your care via a direct payment or by commissioning us directly, you can request Jewel Home Support by name. Speak to your social worker or contact us and we'll help you through the process.
We visit you at home, talk through the support you need, and put together a care plan with a clear cost, before anyone starts visiting. There's no obligation, and we're happy to talk through funding routes at the same time.