Live-In Care Funding

Yes, live-in care can sometimes be funded in full or in part, depending on the person’s care needs, health needs, and financial circumstances.

In England, the main funding routes are local authority support, NHS Continuing Healthcare, certain benefits such as Attendance Allowance, and private funding. 

For many families, funding is not always limited to one route. Some people receive support from the council or NHS, while others use benefits alongside private funding to help make live-in care more affordable.

The right option will depend on the individual’s circumstances, which is why it is important to understand what support may be available before making any decisions.

In some cases, yes. If the local council assesses that a person has eligible care needs and that live-in care is an appropriate way to meet those needs, it may contribute towards the cost.

The process usually starts with a free needs assessment, followed by a financial assessment to work out whether funding is available and how much the person may need to contribute. 

In England, people with assets above £23,250 will usually be expected to pay the full cost of care themselves.

If assets fall between £14,250 and £23,250, the council may contribute towards the cost, and if assets are below £14,250, the highest level of support may be available, although a contribution from income may still be required.

If care is provided at home, the value of the home the person continues to live in is generally not included in the financial assessment, which can make live-in care more realistic than many families first expect.

NHS Continuing Healthcare is a package of care arranged and funded entirely by the NHS for adults with complex, ongoing health needs.

It is not means-tested, so eligibility is based on need rather than savings, income, or assets.

If someone qualifies, it can cover the full cost of care, including care provided at home. 

Eligibility is not based on a specific diagnosis. Instead, the assessment looks at whether the person has a primary health need and considers the nature, intensity, complexity, and unpredictability of their needs.

For families dealing with significant medical needs, this can be an important route to explore, particularly if live-in care at home would be the best long-term option.

Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care or supervision because of illness or disability.

It is paid by the government, is not means-tested, and is usually paid directly to the person receiving it.

While Attendance Allowance will not usually cover the full cost of live-in care on its own, it can still make a useful contribution towards the overall cost of support at home.

It may also increase entitlement to other benefits, such as Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, or Council Tax Reduction, which can further help with affordability.

Self-funding means paying for live-in care privately rather than relying entirely on local authority or NHS funding.

This may involve using personal income, pension income, savings, or investments to cover the cost of care at home.

For many families, self-funding is the quickest way to put support in place, especially where care is needed urgently or while other funding options are still being explored. 

In England, people with assets above £23,250 will usually be expected to pay the full cost of their care themselves. However, where care is being provided at home, the value of the home the person continues to live in is generally not included in the financial assessment.

This means some families may find live-in care more affordable than they first expected, even if they begin by paying privately.

In some cases, yes. Some families explore equity release as part of self-funding live-in care at home.

Equity release allows homeowners to unlock some of the value tied up in their property without having to move out, usually through a lifetime mortgage or a home reversion plan. 

Because equity release can affect inheritance, benefits, and long-term finances, it is usually seen as a major financial decision rather than a first step.

For that reason, independent financial advice is strongly recommended before proceeding.

It can be a useful option in some circumstances, but it should always be carefully considered as part of a wider care funding plan.

In some cases, yes. If the local council agrees that live-in care is the right way to meet a person’s assessed needs, it may provide a personal budget to help pay for that support.

A personal budget is the amount of funding the council allocates for eligible care needs. In some cases, this can be taken as a direct payment, which gives the person or their representative more choice over how care is arranged at home.

Whether this can be used for live-in care will depend on the care plan, the level of funding available, and the local council’s agreement.

In most cases, no. If care is being provided at home, the value of the home the person continues to live in is generally not included in the financial assessment for care at home in England. 

This is one of the reasons why live-in care can be a more realistic option than many families first expect.

It allows some people to remain in their own home while receiving the support they need, without the home automatically being taken into account in the same way it may be for permanent residential care.

Yes, many families do exactly that.

Self-funding can allow care to begin quickly while local authority assessments, NHS Continuing Healthcare assessments, or wider funding discussions are still ongoing. 

This can be helpful where care is needed urgently or where the family wants to put support in place without delay.

If funding is approved later, the longer-term arrangement can then be reviewed based on the person’s needs and eligibility. 

If you are exploring funding for live-in care, the best first step is usually to request a free needs assessment from your local council. This helps decide what care is needed and whether the council may be able to contribute towards the cost. You can start the application process here.

If the person has complex or ongoing health needs, it is also worth asking whether they should be assessed for NHS Continuing Healthcare. This is funding arranged by the NHS for people who meet the eligibility criteria. You can start the application process here.

If local authority funding is approved, support may be provided through a personal budget or direct payments, which can give more flexibility over how care is arranged at home. More information is available here.

You may also want to check whether Attendance Allowance could help with the extra costs of care. You can read more here.

If you are unsure which route is right for your situation, Medicare People can help you understand the options and where to begin.