What You Need to Know
When someone you love—or you yourself—needs extra help with daily living due to age, illness, or disability, it can feel overwhelming to think about the costs involved. Long-term care is a deeply personal and often emotional topic, and understanding how to pay for it is one of the first steps in planning for the future. Not everyone planned a long term care insurance. If you’re just starting to explore your options, this guide will walk you through the basics in a clear, supportive way.
What Is Long-Term Care?
Long-term care refers to a range of services designed to help people who are unable to manage everyday tasks like washing, dressing, cooking, or getting around. This care can be provided in:
- Your own home (through home carers or personal assistants)
- Residential care homes
- Nursing homes (for those with medical needs)
- Assisted living communities
Who Pays for Long-Term Care in the UK?
In the UK, long-term care isn’t automatically free through the NHS—unlike medical care. However, there is a mix of public support and private funding options, depending on your financial situation, health needs, and location.
1. Local Authority Support
If your needs are primarily social care (as opposed to medical), your local council may help pay for care—but only after a care needs assessment and financial means test.
- Care Needs Assessment: Determines what kind of help you need.
- Means Test: Looks at your income, savings, and assets (including your home, in some cases).
- long term care training: might be available for you
As of 2024/25, if you have:
- Less than £14,250 in savings → You’ll likely receive the most support.
- Between £14,250 and £23,250 → You may have to contribute to the cost.
- Over £23,250 → You’ll likely have to pay for your own care (“self-funding”).
📌 Note: These thresholds can vary slightly in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. For example, Scotland offers free personal care for over-65s, regardless of income.
2. NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)
If your care needs are mainly due to a health condition, you may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare, which covers the full cost of care, whether at home or in a nursing home. This is not means-tested, but qualifying can be difficult and often involves a detailed assessment.
3. NHS-Funded Nursing Care
For those in nursing homes who don’t qualify for full CHC, the NHS might still pay for the nursing component of care, currently £219.71 per week (as of April 2024).
4. Attendance Allowance & Other Benefits
If you’re over State Pension age and need help due to illness or disability, you may be eligible for Attendance Allowance—a non-means-tested benefit worth up to £108.55 per week (2024/25 rates). It can be used to help pay for care at home or contribute to care home fees.
Other support might include:
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for under-66s with disabilities
- Carer’s Allowance for those looking after someone full-time
- Long term care training
5. Paying Privately (Self-Funding)
If you’re above the means test threshold, you may need to self-fund. It’s important to:
- Shop around and compare care providers for a better understanding of the price of long term care
- Consider legal and financial advice, especially regarding the use or sale of your home
- Look into care annuities (also called immediate needs annuities) for guaranteed lifetime payments
- Review your eligibility for Deferred Payment Agreements – a council-backed scheme letting you delay selling your home to pay for care
Planning Ahead: Why It Matters
Even if you or your family don’t need care now, early planning can:
- Prevent financial shocks
- Help you make informed, less rushed decisions
- Ensure your wishes are respected
- Plan in advance a long term care insurance
- Acquire in time long term care training
Key Tips for Getting Started
- Speak to your GP or local adult social services to request an assessment
- Use tools like Age UK’s care cost calculator
- Get advice from a regulated financial adviser, particularly if you’re considering using savings, pensions, long term care insurance, or property to fund care
Support Organisations
Here are some trusted sources for further help:
- Age UK: www.ageuk.org.uk
- MoneyHelper: www.moneyhelper.org.uk
- CareAware: www.careaware.co.uk
- Citizens Advice: www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Final Thoughts
Navigating long-term care can feel complex, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Whether you’re researching for yourself or a loved one, understanding your rights, options, and sources of support is an empowering first step. Financial help is out there—and so is compassionate advice.