If the money you’ve been using to pay for your long-term care is running out, here are the other funding options you can try.

If the money you’ve been using to pay for your long-term care is running out, here are the other funding options you can try.
If you can’t afford paying for your care, your local council or Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland (HSCNI) may provide for your care needs. This might mean you won’t receive the same level of care or have a say in the type of care you receive.
Your local authority or HSCNI might be able to help with funding if your savings and assets are less than the threshold shown in the table below.
Region | Upper savings and capital threshold for any local council funding | Lower savings and capital threshold for maximum local council funding |
---|---|---|
England |
£23,250 |
£14,250 |
Wales |
£24,000 (care at home) or £50,000 (care in a care home) |
£24,000 (care at home) or £50,000 (care in a care home) |
Scotland |
£35,000 |
£21,500 |
Northern Ireland |
£23,250 |
£14,250 |
Or you expect them to be within the next three or so months.
If you’re a homeowner, the value of your home isn’t counted if:
See full details in our guide Help with long-term care costs from your local council or HSCNI.
If you live in Northern Ireland, find out how the HSCNI worksOpens in a new window out how much you need to pay at nidirect.
Ask your local council or HSCNI for a revised care needs assessment.
This is to determine how well you manage everyday tasks and if you need support – see how a care assessment works.
If your care assessment shows you need paid care, such as a place in a care home, a financial assessment will be arranged to see if you qualify for funding. This will look at your income, savings and assets.
Be aware, if you're required to use your assets to cover care expenses, you might eventually become eligible for financial help. Keep an eye on your finances and consider applying for support before they drop below the thresholds for funding.
If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, find your local council at GOV.UKOpens in a new window
If you live in Northern Ireland, find your local HSCNI at nidirectOpens in a new window
If you have a disability or complex medical problem, you might qualify for free NHS continuing healthcare (NHS continuing care for under 18s).
This covers:
Ask your doctor or social worker to arrange an assessment.
Before you do anything, make sure you’re claiming everything you’re entitled to. This could help top up your income if you don’t qualify for funding.
Attendance Allowance is tax-free and isn’t affected by your savings or income. This means it doesn't matter how much money you have or how much you earn.
You might be entitled to it if:
You can apply once you’ve needed care for at least six months, or immediately if you're terminally ill.
The amount you’ll get depends on the care you need. For example, if you need help all the time or just during the day or night. This might be different from the care you're currently getting.
Find out more about Attendance Allowance, including how to claim:
Whether or not you have care needs or a disability, it’s worth checking if you qualify for any extra support.
Use our Benefits calculator to quickly check what you could get.
For example, if you’re under State Pension age, Personal Independence Payments could help you meet the costs of care.
If you need a larger or adapted property because of a disability, or you have a severe mental impairment, you might be entitled to pay no or less Council Tax or Rates.
If you move into a care home and your property is left empty, you usually won’t pay Council Tax or Rates until it’s sold.
Contact your local council to find out more about their Council Tax Reduction or Rate Relief scheme.
In England and Wales, find your local council at GOV.UKOpens in a new window
In Scotland, find your local council at mygov.scotOpens in a new window
In Northern Ireland, a guide to rates at nidirectOpens in a new window
A grant is a donation that you don’t have to repay. Many UK charities and trusts provide grants to help with the extra costs of ill health or disability.
Find out what grants are available and how to apply in our guide Charitable grants for ill or disabled people.
Here are ways to free up money to help pay for your care costs, including finding more affordable care providers.
Use our free Budget planner to check if there are any areas where you can cut back.
Another way to increase your income is to reduce the amount you spend. This might not be possible, but here are things to try:
When cancelling, always check the terms of your contract as you might have to pay a fee to leave early.
Follow these steps if you need to find a cheaper care provider. For example, if funding from your council or HSCNI won’t cover your current costs.
It's important to understand your options and plan how to continue funding your place. This will help ensure a smooth transition and continued care.
It's important not to miss a payment to your care home. Instead, apply for funding at least three months before your savings and assets drop below the thresholds.
If your latest care needs assessment agrees you require a place in a care home, your local council or trust must offer you a choice of at least one home.
But these options might not include the care home you’re already in as the funding may not meet your current costs. This doesn’t mean you have to move to another home though.
Check your contract to understand your rights. For example, some care providers offer the option to stay while you apply for funding, or they may accept the lower rate from your local council.
Another option is to see if you can move to a more affordable or shared room within the same home.
You might also be able to top up the amount you and the council can afford, which is often done by family members. Care costs increase each year so make sure whoever is paying understands how much they’d need to budget for.
If you’re unable to afford to stay in your current care home, you might need to move.
You’ll need to find a care home that accepts funding from the council or HSCNI as full payment.
For full information:
In England, how to start arranging for care at Age UKOpens in a new window
In Wales, about paying for a care home at Age CymruOpens in a new window
In Scotland, see ‘Care home funding’ at Age ScotlandOpens in a new window
In Northern Ireland, tips on finding a good care home at Age NIOpens in a new window