Council help with home care depends on two separate tests. First a needs assessment decides whether your care needs are eligible. Then a financial assessment, the means test, decides how much of the cost the council will pay. Anyone can ask for a needs assessment, regardless of income, and it is worth doing even if you expect to pay for care yourself, because it can unlock advice, equipment and benefits.
You contact adult social care at your local council and ask for a care needs assessment. It is free. A social worker or assessor looks at what a person can and cannot manage safely, and whether that has a significant impact on their wellbeing.
Ask for the outcome in writing. Even where the council does not fund care, the assessment gives you a clear, independent description of the needs, which is useful when you arrange care privately.
The means test looks at income and capital. Importantly, for care in a person's own home, the value of the home they live in is not counted, which is different from residential care. Capital thresholds and charging rules are set nationally and published on gov.uk, so check the current figures there rather than relying on numbers quoted in older articles.
Councils fund eligible personal care and support needs. They generally do not fund housework alone, companionship alone, or a level of service above what they judge necessary. Many families top up privately to get more hours, better continuity or a preferred provider.
If the council agrees to fund care, you can usually take the money as a direct payment and choose your own provider rather than using a council commissioned agency. This is how many families arrange care with us while keeping council support in place.
Ask for the decision and the reasoning in writing, and ask about the review or complaints process. Decisions are sometimes revisited, particularly where the picture given on the day did not reflect a person's worst days. Describe the difficult days, not the good ones.
No. For care in a person's own home, the value of that home is not included in the financial assessment. That rule differs for residential care.
Yes. Anyone can request a needs assessment, and it is worth having in writing even if you self fund.
Often yes, through a direct payment. Ask your social worker about taking your personal budget as a direct payment.
Council funding is means tested and covers social care needs. NHS Continuing Healthcare is not means tested and can fund the whole package where needs are primarily health related.
Timescales vary by council and can take several weeks. If care is needed sooner, families often start privately and continue the funding application alongside.
We can explain how families in your position usually fund care. Call 01784 740078 for a free conversation.
We can explain how families in your position usually fund care. Call 01784 740078 for a free conversation.
