Social Care Funding

If you need help with paying for your care, your Local Authority will need to visit you to carry out two assessments. The first assessment will establish the type of care you need, and the second will be a financial assessment to discern your financial position. They will then be able to tell you if you qualify for financial support.

We are here to help you before, during or after these assessments - we understand these circumstances can be difficult and sometimes stressful. You are more than welcome to contact the SSA Qualitycare team for support during this time.

Understanding social care funding

Understanding the social care system can seem a daunting task, particularly if you're doing it for the first time.  To help, we have outlined the basic social care funding criteria below.  We can also help with any queries face-to-face or by telephone - simply contact us to find out more.

Full-cost payer

If you have more than £23,250 in savings or other assets, you will most likely have to pay for all of your care yourself.  For home care, the value of your home is not included in the £23,250.

Topping Up

Any savings or assets you have between £14,250 and the £23,250 threshold are assumed to produce an income for you.  The funding available to you is reduced accordingly, the upshot of which being that you will receive some money towards your care but will have to pay the difference yourself.

Fully Funded

If you have savings or assets of less than £14,250 it may be that you are eligible to receive support with the full cost of your care.

Social care is not free, and the reality is that most will have to pay some form of contribution to their care.  It is therefore worth considering any additional benefits you may be entitled to.

Further Information

Whether your care is funded or not, you have the right to feel in control of your care.  Age UK have some useful guides:

Paying for Home Care

Personal Budgets and Direct Payments