As we or our loved ones age or face health challenges, the need for care can arise unexpectedly, placing financial strain on families. At Prestige Nursing & Care we recognise how important it is for families to be well-informed about how to pay for care services. We want to ensure that those in need receive the support they deserve.
When you are considering your home care options, being knowledgeable about the funding available will empower you to make informed choices that align with your needs and financial capabilities.
Here you can learn more about the various ways to pay for your care, including NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding, social care funding and self-funding your own care.
Arranging a Care Assessment
If you or a loved one requires care services in the UK, the first step is to undergo a care needs assessment. A needs assessment is free and anyone can request one.
During the assessment process, someone from the council such as a social worker or occupational therapist will evaluate your care needs and assess how well you manage with everyday life. They will ask how you get on with day-to-day activities such as personal care, meal preparation, shopping and moving around your home.
This is your opportunity to have your say. It is important to provide as much detail as possible about your daily challenges, regardless of how big or small. It can be helpful to prepare a list of your needs in advance of the assessment to ensure you cover everything you want to say.
Contact social services at your local council and ask for a needs assessment. You can call them or do it online. Apply for a needs assessment on GOV.UK.
Care Funding Options in the UK
When arranging care at home, you need to consider how you will pay for the care and whether there is any funding available to you.
If you have an identified healthcare need, you may be entitled to healthcare funding through your local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) or, depending on your financial circumstances, you may qualify for all or part of social care funding. There may also be other Government funding that you may be able to access.
If you do not qualify for any funding, you will be required to pay for the care yourself. This is known as self-funding care.
NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding
If you are living with a complex health condition that impacts your life, you may be entitled to Continuing Healthcare Funding (CHC). This is a form of funding entirely managed and funded by the NHS. While CHC funding does not consider your financial circumstances, the qualification criteria are rather strict.
If you have an identified primary healthcare need, care is provided free at the point of delivery in the UK. NHS Continuing Healthcare funding is a form of care that is organised and funded by your local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). You can choose to receive this care in a primary or acute care setting or choose to receive support right in your own home.
Your CCG will conduct a comprehensive assessment of your needs to determine whether you are eligible for healthcare funding. In order to be eligible, the assessment must conclude that your needs are ‘primary’ and not just a social care need.
The process of finding out whether you are eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding can be a lengthy one. The first step is to ask for a continuing care assessment from your social worker or GP.
Social care funding
Social care funding is means-tested and allocated by your local authority. The level of funding you may be entitled to depends on your financial circumstances, as well as your care and support needs.
Social care funding is provided to people to help them with everyday activities and tasks. If you need help with feeding, continence management, washing or dressing, then you could be entitled to social care funding, as long as you do not exceed the financial threshold level in the means test.
Your local authority will look at your income, savings, and property to determine how much you need to contribute to the cost of your care.
Government funding
If you are over the State Pension age and have an illness or disability, there are some government benefits you may be entitled to. These can help you cover the costs of your care. Check GOV.uk to see what benefits you may be entitled to.
Self-funding care
If you do not qualify for any funding, you will be required to pay for the care yourself. This is known as self-funding care.
There are many options as to how you can finance care yourself. There are care fees insurance policies that could pay your care fees over the longer term. It might be that you qualify for some funding to meet your care and support costs, and that you part-fund the remainder privately. It is always prudent to seek independent financial advice before you commit to any such policy.
Arrange Home Care
At Prestige Nursing & Care we have been helping families up and down the country to make informed choices about home care options for over 75 years.
We have many years of experience working with case managers, commissioning teams, local authorities and other professionals involved in procuring specialist home care to provide the right care at the right time to our clients.
