How does local authority funding work for home care in the UK?

Local council funding begins with a free Care Needs Assessment to evaluate daily support requirements, followed by a financial means test of savings and income. If eligible, families can receive Direct Payments to choose their own private carers directly.

What is NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) and can it pay for live-in care?

NHS Continuing Healthcare is fully funded, non-means-tested care for individuals with primary health needs. If awarded, families can use a Personal Health Budget (PHB) to arrange private live-in care at home with full control over their carer selection.

Can you receive state benefits while paying for private care?

Yes. Non-means-tested benefits such as Attendance Allowance (for individuals over State Pension age) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can be used to help cover private care costs regardless of savings or income.

How does No1 Healthcare make self-funding care more affordable?

By connecting families directly with fully vetted, self-employed private carers, No1 Healthcare eliminates traditional agency management markups, making bespoke live-in and visiting care approximately 35% more affordable.

Funding Elderly Care at Home: A Complete UK Guide

Understanding your options early gives you the power to make the best decisions for your family — whether you need hourly visiting care or comprehensive 24-hour live-in support.

Find a Carer

0333 344 0645

1

Local authority funding

How council funding works

Your local council is usually the first place to start. Funding is based on two key assessments that determine eligibility and contribution.

1

Care needs assessment

A social worker identifies exactly what daily support your loved one requires to live safely at home. This is free and everyone is entitled to it, regardless of financial situation.

2

Financial assessment (means test)

Determines how much they are expected to contribute. Only your loved one's finances are assessed — not the wider family's savings or assets.

Action: Contact your local council as soon as possible to request a free care needs assessment if you think your loved one may need funding.

Live-in care note: When care is provided in your loved one's own home, the value of their property is excluded from the means test.

England

Above £23,250

Self-funder

£14,250 – £23,250

Part-funded

Below £14,250

Fully funded

Scotland

Above £35,000

Self-funder

£21,500 – £35,000

Part-funded

Below £21,500

Fully funded

Wales

Above £50,000

Self-funder

Below £50,000

Some funding available

2

Personal budgets

How your personal budget works

Once eligible, your loved one receives a personal budget. You choose how it's managed.

England and Wales

Direct payments

The council pays funds directly to your loved one, empowering your family to choose and manage your own private care provider.

Funds paid directly to your loved one or a nominated person

Choose a vetted carer from the No1 Healthcare platform

Top-up payments apply if your chosen care exceeds the allocated budget

Scotland

Self-directed support (SDS)

Choosing Option 1 lets you receive funds directly and arrange care with your chosen independent provider.

Select Option 1 to receive funds directly

Use funds to hire a vetted No1 Healthcare professional

Over 65s in Scotland are also entitled to free personal care

3

NHS Continuing Healthcare

NHS funding for complex health needs

If your loved one has complex ongoing health needs, they may qualify for CHC — covering 100% of care costs regardless of income or savings.

No means test

Eligibility is based on clinical need only. CHC is completely non-means-tested — income and savings are irrelevant.

Multidisciplinary assessment

Conducted by an NHS team. Requires a primary health need — meaning care requirements are primarily medical rather than social.

Across the UK

Scotland uses Hospital-Based Complex Clinical Care. Wales runs its own version of the CHC scheme.

Palliative and end-of-life care

Expedited end-of-life funding

Urgent funding routes are available to ensure your loved one is comfortable at home.

NHS fast track funding

Designed for rapidly deteriorating conditions — urgent CHC funding can be arranged, often within 48 hours.

Attendance allowance

A non-means-tested benefit for those over State Pension age who need care or supervision due to illness or disability.

4

Condition-specific funding

Funding for dementia and complex conditions

Eligibility relies entirely on the level of need, not the specific diagnosis. Here's how the two most common situations map to funding routes.

01

Dementia or Alzheimer's

Needs revolving around memory loss, safety supervision, or personal care usually fall under local authority funding based on the care needs assessment.

02

Huntington's, MS or complex conditions

These may qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare if health needs are highly intensive, complex, or unpredictable in nature.

The No1 Healthcare advantage

Self-funding the smarter way

If your loved one's assets exceed the local authority threshold, No1 Healthcare connects you directly with fully vetted independent professionals — skipping traditional agency markups and making premium home care roughly 35% more affordable.

Find a carer Call 0333 344 0645

35%

Average saving vs traditional agency

100%

DBS checked professionals

48 hr

NHS fast-track funding turnaround

Support available

Tools and professional support

Navigating care funding can be daunting — professional help is available to guide your family through every step.

Financial advice (SOLLA)

The Society of Later Life Advisers connects families with accredited specialists who focus on later-life care and funding options.

Independent advocacy

Advocates guide you through assessments and applications, ensuring your loved one's rights are represented clearly to the council or NHS.

Frequently asked questions

Your questions answered

Quick answers to the most common questions about care funding in the UK.

How do I get funding for home care?

Contact your local council to request a free care needs assessment. If they determine support is required, a financial means test will follow. For complex medical needs, ask your GP or social worker about an NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) assessment.

What is the threshold for self-funding care?

In England the upper threshold is £23,250. Thresholds are £35,000 in Scotland and £50,000 in Wales. If your loved one's assets exceed these amounts, they will need to self-fund their care.

Does property count in the means test for live-in care?

No. When care is provided inside your loved one's own home, the value of that property is excluded from the local authority financial means test.

Can we use government funding to pay for a No1 Healthcare carer?

Yes. If your loved one receives a personal budget via Direct Payments (England and Wales) or Option 1 Self-Directed Support (Scotland), you are free to use those funds to choose a fully vetted professional directly through the No1 Healthcare platform.

Ready to find the right carer?

Whether you're using direct payments, a personal health budget, or self-funding privately — we help you find a fully vetted carer who truly fits your loved one's life.

0333 344 0645

Find a Carer