Paying for care at home or in the community

Information about who can get help to pay for care at home or in the community, including personal budgets and direct payments.

Examples of what people pay for care and support

ASC examples Jenny - media
Jenny sat on a sofa with her hair in a ponytail

Example 1: Jenny, 42, has a disability, no savings

  • Jenny is 42. The result of her care needs assessment is that she receives care at home for 10 hours per week.
  • Her care and support costs are £206 each week.
  • She gets some benefits because of her disability. She does not have any savings.
  • She qualifies for financial assistance from the council to pay for all of her care. 

Jenny’s costs

  • Jenny’s total weekly income: £374.29
  • Jenny’s Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) for her circumstances: £342.60

Because Jenny’s income is less than what she is allowed to keep to cover the costs of daily living, she qualifies for help to pay for all of her care. She will not have to pay anything for her care.

 

ASC Jenny costs - accordion

How we work out Jenny’s costs

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

  • £186.84 per week Universal Credit
  • £110.40 per week PIP (Daily Living)
  • £77.05 per week PIP (Mobility)

Her total weekly income is £374.29.

Jenny does not have to use all of her income to pay for her care. She is entitled to keep some money to cover her day to day living expenses.

From her income, she can keep:

  • £342.60 per week Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) for her circumstances
  • £77.05 per week PIP (Mobility)
  • £16.75 per week Disability Related Expenditure (DRE) for powered wheelchair maintenance and excessive laundry costs

Jenny can keep a total of £436.40 per week.

Because Jenny’s income is less than what she is allowed to keep to cover the costs of daily living, she does not need to pay for her care at all

ASC Margaret cost example - media
Margaret in a park looking at the viewer

Example 2: Margaret, state pension, no savings

  • Margaret is 85. The result of her care needs assessment is that she needs home care for 10 hours each week.
  • Margaret’s care and support costs are £20.60 per hour.
  • She receives a state pension but has no savings.
  • She qualifies for financial assistance from the council to pay for all of her care. 

Margaret’s costs

  • Margaret’s care and support costs: £206.00 each week
  • Margaret’s income: £314.25 per week
  • Margaret’s total weekly living costs: £337.60 per week

Because Margaret’s income is less than her total weekly living costs, she qualifies for help to pay for all of her care. She will not have to pay anything for her care.

 

ASC Margaret care examples - accordion

How we work out Margaret’s costs

As part of the financial assessment, Margaret confirms that she has no savings, and her weekly income includes: 

  • £203.85 per week state pension
  • £110.40 per week higher rate of attendance allowance

Margaret’s total weekly income is £314.25.

Margaret does not have to use all of her income to pay for her care. She is entitled to keep some money to cover her day to day living expenses.

From her income, she can keep:

  • £232.60 per week Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) for her circumstances
  • £100 per week for household bills
  • £5 per week for Disability Related Expenditure (DRE)

Margaret’s total weekly living costs are £337.60.

Because Margaret’s income is less than her total weekly living costs, she does not need to pay for her care at all.

ASC Tim costs examples - media
Tim standing in the street looking at the viewer

Example 3: Tim, state pension, benefits, no savings

  • Tim is 67. The result of his care needs assessment is that he needs personal care for 15 hours each week.
  • Tim’s care and support costs are £20.60 per hour.
  • He has a small pension and no savings.
  • He qualifies for financial assistance from the council to pay for some of his care costs. 

Tim’s costs

  • Tim’s care and support costs: £309 each week
  • He pays: £9.35 towards his care
  • We pay: £299.65, to cover the rest of his care bills

 

ASC Tim cost example - accordion

How we work out Tim’s costs

As part of the financial assessment, Tim confirms that he has no savings, and his weekly income includes:  

  • £120 per week state pension
  • £101.05 per week pension credit
  • £73.90 per week lower rate of attendance allowance

His total weekly income is £294.95.

Tim keeps some income back to cover living costs:

  • £232.60 per week Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) for his circumstances
  • £50 per week for household bills
  • £3 per week for Disability Related Expenditure (DRE)

Tim’s total living costs are £285.60.

£294.95 total weekly income - £285.60 total living costs = £9.35.

£9.35 is the amount that Tim can afford to pay.