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Paying for care and nursing homes

Information about who can get help to pay for care and nursing homes, including third party top up, deferred payment agreement, and property disregards.

Examples of what people pay for care homes

ASC Arthur care cost example - media
Arthur sat in a chair, looking towards the viewer

Example 1: Arthur, has savings of £17,000 but doesn’t own any property

  • Arthur is 77. The result of his care needs assessment is that he needs to live permanently in a care home.
  • He does not own any property but does have around £17,000 in savings.
  • He qualifies for help from the council to help pay his care home fees because he has savings of less than £23,250.
  • He will use some of his savings to pay for his care and support each week until his savings go below £14,250.

Arthur’s costs

  • Arthur’s care home fees: £1,025 per week
  • Arthur pays: £235.35 per week
  • We pay: £789.65 per week, to cover the rest of his care home bill
ASC cost examples Arthur - accordion

How we work out Arthur’s costs

As part of the financial assessment, Arthur confirms his weekly income includes:

  • £175 state pension
  • £80 private pension
  • £11 of tariff income from his savings (he has £2,750 above the lower threshold amount of £14,250, so he pays £1 for every or part of £250)

His total income each week is £266.

Arthur keeps some of his income back as his personal expenses allowance. This is £30.65 per week.

£266 income -  £30.65 personal expenses allowance = £235.35

£235.35 is the amount Arthur can afford to pay per week.

ASC Beryl examples - media
Beryl sat in a chair in a cosy room

Example 2: Beryl, has savings of £13,000 and owns property with her husband

  • Beryl is 81. The result of her care needs assessment is that she needs to live permanently in a nursing home.
  • She is married and owns the home she shares with her husband. She also has around £13,000 in savings.
  • Beryl qualifies for help from the council to pay towards her care home fees because she has savings of less than £14,250.
  • The value of her home isn’t counted in her financial assessment, because her husband will continue to live in it. 

Beryl’s costs

  • Beryl’s nursing home fees: £948 each week
  • Beryl pays: £184.35
  • We pay: £763.65, to cover the rest of her nursing home bill
ASC examples Beryl - accordion

How we work out Beryl’s costs

As part of the financial assessment, Beryl confirms her weekly income includes:

  • £175 state pension
  • £80 private pension (we ignore 50% of this, as she shares it with her husband)

Her total income each week is £215.

Beryl keeps some of her income back as his personal expenses allowance. This is £30.65 per week.

£215 income - £30.65 personal allowance = £184.35

£184.35 is the amount Beryl can afford to pay per week.

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