Care needs assessment
If you're finding it hard to manage and think you need social care, getting a care needs assessment from your local...
Paying for homecare
Homecare services aren’t usually free. However, you may be entitled to help with the costs from your local council. We explain how to get started on getting the care you need and what sources of financial help are out there to help you with the costs.
How do I access homecare help from my local council?
To get help from your local council, you must first ask them for a care needs assessment. This assessment looks at what care needs you have and the sort of care services that may help meet your needs.
The care needs assessment also looks at whether you're eligible to help from the council, based on your level of need. This is called having 'eligible' care needs.
You can ask your council for a care needs assessment or, with your permission, your carer, GP or district nurse can refer you for an assessment on your behalf.
Find out more about the care needs assessment
If you’re being discharged from hospital, you should have a care needs assessment to work out what care services you may need once you're no longer in hospital. This may include a period of rehabilitation to help you recover at home.
Find out more about how to access homecare after hospital discharge
Will the local council pay for my home care?
Following a care needs assessment, if your council agree you have eligible care needs, they'll do a financial assessment or a 'means test'. This is to see if you're entitled to help with the cost of care services and it takes into account your income and 'capital', such as your savings. Unless you’re moving into a care home, this won’t take into account the value of your property.
Here’s how the means test for social care will look at your income and capital, and how this will affect what you pay for care.
| Your capital | What you will have to pay |
| Over £23,250 |
You have to pay your own fees as a 'self-funder'. |
| Between £14,250 and £23,250 |
You qualify for financial support from the council and pay a contribution from your income – such as pensions – plus a 'tariff income' based on your capital. This 'tariff income' is worked out by assuming you have an extra £1 per week in income for every £250 (or part of) you have between £14,250 and £23,250 in capital. |
| Less than £14,250 |
The council provides financial support and you will still contribute from your income, but you won't have to pay a tariff income. |
Certain types of income, such as money from some disability benefits are ignored in the means test. Certain types of capital are also ignored in the means test. But all other income and capital can be taken into account.
If the means test finds that you're entitled to help with the cost of care services, you may still have to pay a contribution towards the cost of your care. However, when working out how much you may have to pay, the council must make sure your income doesn't fall below a set level, known as the minimum income guarantee. This is £228.70 per week if you’re single and above State Pension age, and £174.60 if you're part of a couple where one or both of you have reached State Pension age.
If you’re eligible for help with homecare costs, you can choose whether to have the council arrange care services for you, or to receive their funding as a direct payment (as cash paid to you directly) so that you can arrange your own care.
How much does it cost to pay for my own homecare?
If you’re paying fees yourself (called self-funding), then you can arrange your own care. However, if you'd prefer for your local council to arrange this for you then they must do so, as long as you have eligible care needs. There may be an arrangement fee.
Homecare typically costs around £25 per hour – however this may vary depending on your circumstances, such as where you live and the type of care you need. It's always worth contacting a few homecare agencies in your area to ask about their services and compare their costs to find homecare to best suit your needs.
To find a homecare agency:
- The Homecare Association can give you details of homecare providers that follow its code of practice.
- Your local adult social services department should be able to provide you with details of approved private agencies.
- Ask friends or relatives for recommendations.
You may choose to employ a care worker directly, instead of getting sercices from a homecare agency or self-employed care worker. If you do this, you'll take on the legal responsibilities of an employer.
Find out more about employing your own carer in our FAQ section
Can I get other financial support to pay for my homecare?
Make sure you’re claiming all the benefits you’re entitled to.
- Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people over State Pension age who need extra help to stay independent at home, due to an illness or disability.
- If you’re under State Pension age, you may be eligible for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) instead.
- If you have a carer, they could be eligible for Carer’s Allowance.
These benefits aren’t means-tested (although with Carer's Allowance you can't earn more than a set amount per week) so they don't take into account your income and savings.
Frequently asked questions
Can I employ my own carer?
If you want to employ a care worker directly, you take on the responsibilities of an employer. These responsibilities include drawing up a contract and making appropriate pension arrangements. Skills for Care has information about your responsibilities when you employ a care worker.
Find out more on the Skills for Care website
Pension rules mean that if you employ your own carer using either your own money or money from your direct payment, you may be legally obliged to contribute towards a pension for them.
You may need to take this into account if you decide to hire a carer (or carers) directly and you pay them more than £192 a week or £833 every month. If you use a payroll service, they may help you with these duties.
Find out more using the The Pensions Regulator’s Duties checker
What if I’m running out of money?
If you’re paying fees yourself (which is called 'self-funding') and your capital reaches £23,250, the local council may assist with funding. You should request an assessment a few months before that happens as they'll need to agree you have eligible needs for care and support.
They should arrange one as soon as possible so you don’t have to use up your capital below that amount.
What if I give away some of my money?
You may think about giving away some of your savings, income or property to avoid paying care costs, and give something to your relatives or to a charity, for example.
If the council thinks that you've done this to avoid paying care fees, they may still assess you as if you still had the money or property that you've given away. This is referred to as 'deprivation of assets'.
We're here to help
We offer support through our free advice line on 0800 678 1602. Lines are open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year. We also have specialist advisers at over 120 local Age UKs.