Who Pays for Care? A Plain-English Guide to Funding and Assessments in the UK

Of everything families face, funding is the part that causes the most confusion and worry. Who pays? How much? What’s free and what isn’t? The rules are genuinely complicated, and the stress of not knowing can be as hard as the cost itself.

This guide won’t replace proper financial advice, and I’ll be clear where you need it, but it will help you understand the landscape so you know what questions to ask and what to expect.

A quick honest word

When we were going through this, the funding maze was the part that floored me. Phone calls in a language I didn’t speak, forms with no explanation, and no clear answer about what we’d have to pay. I learned to slow every conversation down and ask: “Can you explain that in plain English?” You’re allowed to do the same.

Start with a needs assessment

Before any talk of money, the starting point is a needs assessment from your local council’s adult social care team. This is free, and anyone who appears to need care and support has the right to one.

The assessment looks at what help the person needs day to day, washing, dressing, eating, mobility, staying safe. It results in a view of what support would help, which then leads to the question of who pays for it.

Action: Contact your local council’s adult social care team and ask for a needs assessment. You can request one for someone else with their agreement.

Then comes the financial assessment (means test)

If the council agrees the person needs care, they carry out a financial assessment , a means test, to work out how much, if anything, the person must contribute.

The means test looks at income and capital (savings, and sometimes property). There are thresholds that determine whether the council contributes, the person pays in full, or it’s shared. These figures are for England in 2026/27. Always check the current numbers on GOV.UK, as other UK nations differ:

• Above £23,250 (upper capital limit). You pay the full cost of care yourself
• Below £14,250 (lower capital limit). Your capital is ignored; only your income is assessed
• Between the two . The council contributes, but you pay £1/week for every £250 of capital above the lower limit
• People in council-funded care keep a Personal Expenses Allowance (£31.80/week in England, 2026/27)

The thresholds differ across the UK: Scotland uses higher limits and provides free personal care; Wales has a single £50,000 limit; Northern Ireland matches England. Always read guidance for the right nation.

Important. The care cost cap was scrapped. You may have read about an £86,000 lifetime cap on care costs. That plan was cancelled in July 2024 and is not happening, so there is currently no cap on what someone may spend on care in England. Be wary of older articles that still mention it.

A few things worth knowing:

• Whether the person’s home counts depends on the situation. For example, if a partner still lives there, it’s usually disregarded. This is an area where getting advice really matters.
• The rules differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Make sure you’re reading guidance for the right nation.

This is an area where a regulated financial adviser, ideally one specialising in later-life care, can save families far more than they cost. We always recommend proper advice before making decisions about property or savings.

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC). The one many families miss

This is important and often overlooked. NHS Continuing Healthcare is funding from the NHS, not the council, for people with significant ongoing health needs. If someone qualifies, the NHS pays for their care, and it is not means tested.

The catch is that the assessment process is complex, and many families either don’t know it exists or find it hard to navigate. If your loved one has substantial health needs (not just age-related care needs), it is worth exploring whether CHC applies.

Action: Ask the GP, hospital team or social worker about a CHC assessment if the person has significant or complex health needs.

Other support worth checking

• Attendance Allowance . A benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care, not means tested on income.
• Carer’s Allowance , £86.45/week (2026/27) for people providing at least 35 hours of care a week, subject to an earnings limit (£204/week) and other conditions.
• Council tax reductions and other local support may apply.

Check eligibility on GOV.UK or with a benefits adviser. Citizens Advice and Age UK both offer free help.

Where to get trustworthy help

You don’t have to work this out alone:

• Citizens Advice . Free, impartial guidance on benefits and care funding
• Age UK . Advice line and factsheets specifically on care funding
• A specialist later-life financial adviser . For decisions involving property, savings or self-funding

You’re asking the right questions

If you’ve read this far, you’re already doing the most important thing, finding out before you commit. That alone can protect your family from costly mistakes.

The Care Compass helps you understand where you are and what comes next at every stage. Funding sits at the heart of The Care Compass Journey, and wherever you are on it, there’s a next step.

You don’t have to navigate it alone.