Paying for and arranging care

Most people will need to pay something towards the cost of their care and support. A financial assessment will determine any financial support you are eligible for.

In this section:

Paying for and arranging care

Adult social care services are not free for everyone. Most people will have to pay something towards the cost of their care, with some people having to pay the full cost.   

After we have assessed your needs, you will need to complete a financial assessment so we can work out how much you will need to pay. This is based on your income and savings. 

You will need to pay the full cost of care if: 

  • you have savings or assets over £23,250 
  • you choose not to tell us about your savings 
  • you choose not to have a financial assessment 

If you pay the full cost of your care, you are known as a self-funder.  

The video below explains what it means to be a self-funder.  

Minimum income guarantee  

If you have to pay for your care, we will leave you with a certain level of income to cover your living costs. This is a weekly amount and is known as the minimum income guarantee (MIG). 

You can find out more information including the rates for the current financial year on GOV.UK.   

Frequently asked questions

How much will care cost?

Our cost of services from adult social care page provides information about the cost of: 

  • care homes 
  • care in your home 
  • supported housing 
  • day opportunities 
  • telecare

How do I find out what I might have to pay for care?

Use our online contribution calculator to find out what you might pay towards the cost of your care.   

How could benefits help with care costs?

You may be eligible for benefits. For example, Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which aren't means-tested.  

You can use them to pay towards the cost of your care.   

Read about:  

Can the NHS fund my care?

If you or the person you care for has long-term complex health needs, your care may be funded by NHS continuing healthcare (NHS CHC).  

This includes care delivered at home or in a nursing home. 

What happens if my savings run out?

If your savings fall below £23,250, we might be able to help with the cost of care.  

You should contact us about three months before you think your savings will drop below £23,250 and ask us to assess your care needs and finances.  

We are only able to provide funding from the date you contact us. 

If the amount you have been paying for your care exceeds the amount we can reasonably pay, then a top-up fee may be required if you wish to remain in your chosen care home.  

If you are paying for care at home that costs more than we can reasonably pay, you may need to change care agencies. Your individual circumstances will be assessed at the time. You may also want to consider a direct payment.  

Will I have to sell my home to pay for care?

We won’t count your home within your assessment if you:  

  • receive care and support at home  
  • go into a care home on a short-term or temporary basis  

If you plan to move into a care home permanently, we won’t count your home if it's still occupied by:  

  • your partner or former partner, unless they are estranged from you  
  • your estranged or divorced partner if they are also a lone parent  
  • a relative who is aged 60 or over  
  • a relative who is disabled  
  • a child of yours aged under 18  

If your assessment includes your home, it will be ignored for the first 12 weeks of your care unless you have already self-funded your placement for more than 12 weeks. This allows you time to decide what to do with your property and paying fees. 

What are my options for arranging care?

If you are eligible for financial support, you can:  

  • arrange for care yourself through a direct payment, or 
  • ask adult social care to arrange and pay for your care  

If you are not eligible for financial support, you can:  

  • arrange and pay for care yourself without involving the Council 
  • ask adult social care to arrange and pay for your home care (we will then invoice you for the care and we may apply an admin fee) 

If you plan to make care arrangements yourself, we can still carry out an adult social care assessment to find out what care and support you might need. This will help you to explain your needs to the agency or carer.   

Request an adult social care assessment  

What support can I get from adult social care as a self-funder?

If you pay for your care, you may be able to access some of our services including: 

Where can I get advice about arranging and paying for care?

You can contact our adult social care team by:  

You can contact our Community Advice Hubs by:   

For further advice and support visit: 

What support is available for carers of people who are self-funders?

If you are caring for someone who pays for their care, you are still entitled to a carer's assessment and may be entitled to your own financial support.  

Our help and advice for carers page provides further information.