Paying for Care at Home

The fees you can expect to pay for your or your loved one's home care is entirely dependent on the care needs of the client and the funds they have available. In this article, you will find some helpful information about paying for your care at home. It will also explain what sorts of financial aid you could be eligible for, depending on your local authority, as well as any benefits you may qualify for. 

How Much Does Live-in Care Cost?

Live-in care is a more comprehensive form of home care and will be more expensive than other services. On average, you can expect the cost of care for live-in services to be between £900 - £1,400 per week. This will increase up to £2,000 weekly if you need 24-hour support.

It can be helpful to think about what specific home care services you require when budgeting so you can avoid paying more than you need to. Other things to consider include:

 How often you will require the help of a carer. 

 How long you will need these home care services. 

 Which hourly rates you can pay.

Once a care agency has provided you with a quote, make sure that you can afford the quoted rates. As previously mentioned, depending on your financial status and the location in which you live, your local council may provide payment for some or all of the cost of your care. In addition, if you or your loved one has particularly complex care needs, they may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare cover to pay for their personal care at home.  

Receiving Financial Support for Home Care in the UK

If you are found eligible for council assisted home care during the means test, your local council will then arrange your home care services for you. When they contribute some or all of the care costs, this is called "state-funded" home care. If your local council do not find you eligible for financial assistance, they must provide you with information about where and how you can find help in the local area.

If you initially started paying for your or your loved one's home care yourself, but you are slowly running out of funds to pay the costs, you should contact your local council for assistance. When you are closing in on the £23,250 savings that qualify for financial support, you should ask your local authority to conduct a means test or financial assessment so that you can continue to cover the costs of your home care.

Attendance Allowance

Someone may only qualify for Attendance Allowance once they have reached the State Pension Age. This is over 65 in the UK, depending on the day that you were born. Other criteria include:

Having a mental or physical disability, which includes learning disabilities. Requiring the services of a carer. Requiring care for a minimum of 6 months, unless terminally ill.  

If you live in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, you are entitled to this form of benefit, which has two payment rates depending on the support you or your loved one needs. Healthcare professionals may be required to assess your needs when applying for Attendance Allowance. 

If you or your loved one requires care and support through the day or night, you can expect to receive up to £60 per week towards your costs from this benefit. Conversely, if you or your loved one requires constant, around-the-clock care, you can expect to receive up to £89 per week to help pay for your care. 

Those with terminal illnesses and life expectancies of 6 months or less are automatically entitled to this benefit and may qualify for higher payment rates. Other financial help you may be eligible for when receiving Attendance Allowance include:

A means test is unnecessary to receive Carer's Allowance, but there is a maximum cap on how much you may earn from work. Their funds are taxable if their income is above the relevant tax threshold.

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