Step 2 Paying for Care

Understanding who pays for care and what funding you are entitled to can be confusing.  The following information is a useful initial guide.  We also recommend that you seek further independent advice.

Understanding the different care home charges
There are three main elements of cost covered by Care Home fees:

• Nursing care provided by a Registered Nurse (Care Homes with Nursing / Nursing Homes)

• Personal care, such as help with bathing, dressing, eating and mobility, provided by a Carer

• Accommodation including meals, laundry and housekeeping, heating, lighting and other living costs.

Residents in care homes are entitled to some financial support.  The amount that you are entitled to depends on your individual care needs and on your financial status.

We work with an organisation called Care Aware.  Care Aware are a non profit organisation who offer an independent advocacy service elderly care funding advice in the UK.

Take a look at the Care Aware Funding Flow Chart to see what your financial status might mean.

Who is involved?

The National Health Service

If your care requires ongoing input from a Registered Nurse then you will be eligible for some funding support from the NHS.  If you qualify for the criteria under the NHS Continuing Care scheme then the NHS will fully fund the cost of your care.  If you do not meeting the NHS Continuing Care criteria but still require the ongoing input of a Registered Nurse then the NHS will still make a contribution to the nursing care element.  This is known as the Registered Nursing Care Contribution (or RNCC) sometimes also called Free Nursing Care (or FNC).

Local Authority Social Services

The Social Services department of your local authority will provide an assessment of need to determine the most appropriate care package for an individual and also to undertake the financial means testing to determine will level of financial support the Local Authority will provide.

The Department for Work and Pensions

The DWP’s main role is to administer the benefits system including Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance.

Who will pay for what?

Depending on your financial situation, your Local Authority may pay some of the costs of your care. This is dependent on a means test of your savings and assets which includes any income from your pension, benefits etc and possibly your home if you live alone or if you are both moving into a care home.

What benefits am I entitled to?

If you are paying for your care yourself, you may be entitled to the following benefits:

Attendance Allowance

This is a non means tested benefit payable irrespective of capital or income to those needing help with basic tasks. It has two levels, a lower or daytime rate and a night time or higher rate.

Pension Credit

This is the restructured alternative to Income Support and offers two basic types of benefit, one which is designed to ensure a minimum guaranteed income and the other which to a degree is designed to assist those who have savings or additional private income.

NHS Continuing Care

Full funding for care provided by the NHS for those with an acute care need.

Registered Nursing Care Contribution (RNCC)

An NHS payment contribution towards the cost of providing input from a Registered Nurse.  The payment is non means tested and banded to reflect the degree of nursing input required.

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