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.
Help paying for your care costs if you’re running out of money
Get help from your local council or HSCNI
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.
Follow these steps to work out what you need to do
Check if you qualify for funding
Your local authority or HSCNI might be able to help with funding if your savings and assets are less than:
- £23,250 if you live in England and Northern Ireland
- £29,750 if you live in Scotland
- £24,000 for care at home and £50,000 if you’re in a care home in Wales.
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:
- you’re receiving care at home
- you’re in a care home, but your partner, spouse or another dependant still lives in your home.
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.
If you qualify, ask for a re-assessment of your care needs
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 medical problem, check if you qualify for free NHS healthcare
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:
- personal care
- healthcare costs
- help with everyday living tasks, such as nursing care or paying for specialist therapy
- accommodation if you’re in a care home, or
- support for carers if you’re being looked after at home.
Ask your doctor or social worker to arrange an assessment.
Find out more in our guide Are you eligible for NHS continuing healthcare funding?
Check if you qualify for benefits and grants
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.
Follow these steps to work out what you need to do
Check if you’re eligible for Attendance Allowance
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’re at State Pension age or over
- you need help with personal care because of illness or disability
- you currently pay your own care costs (you can’t usually get it if your local authority pays for your care home).
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:
- In England, Wales or Scotland at GOV.UKOpens in a new window
- In Northern Ireland at nidirectOpens in a new window
Check what other benefits you can 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.
Find out more in our guide Benefits to help with your disability or care needs
Check if you can get a Council Tax or Rates discount
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.
- In England, Scotland and Wales, you might be able to pay Council Tax for a lower band than the property you live in. For example, if you live in a Band B property because you need space to get around in a wheelchair, you might only need to pay Band A Council Tax. If you live alone, or with someone who doesn’t have to pay Council Tax, you can claim a single person discount.
- In Northern Ireland, you can get a 25% discount on your Rates if your home has been adapted to meet your needs.
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
Search for a disability grant
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.
What to do if you’re getting care at home
Here are ways to free up money to help pay for your care costs, including finding more affordable care providers.
Follow these steps to work out what you need to do
Review your budget
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:
- cancel subscriptions or services you don’t use, or could live without
- see if you qualify for cheaper low-income social tariffs for gas and electricity
- check if you can save by switching providers, including:
- internet
- mobile
- gas and electricity
- home and car insurance.
- if you pay credit card interest, consider moving it to an interest-free balance transfer card
- see if you can get cheaper water bills with a water meter (in England and Wales)
- do your food shop at a cheaper supermarket or buy cheaper brands.
When cancelling, always check the terms of your contract as you might have to pay a fee to leave early.
If you’re already struggling with other bills if you’ve already missed a payment, see our Bill prioritiser or our Debt advice locator tool
Look for alternative care providers
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.
- Start by researching care services in your area and comparing their costs and services.
- Reach out to local social services or charities for advice and assistance in finding suitable options within your budget.
- Get recommendations from friends, family, or healthcare professionals who may have experience with care providers in your area.
What to do if you’re in a care home
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.
Follow these steps to work out what you need to do
Check if you can stay in your current care home
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 need to move to a cheaper care home
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