Information and advice for self funders

We encourage you to get independent information and advice about the best way to use your own money to pay for your care and support.

One in four of us may need long term care or support but few of us like to think about it until it happens. Care can involve help in your own home as well as residential or nursing care. If you, or a member of your family, need care and support now or in the future there are a number of important things you need to think about. The following is intended to help you get information and advice in relation to your personal finances and how to pay for care if you:

• Are planning for retirement
• Are an older person considering getting help with care and support for yourself
• Have a need to fund care immediately
• Are a family member, a carer or have Power of Attorney of somebody needing to fund their care
• Have an adult child with disabilities and want to ensure they have financial security after you die
• Are disabled and want to plan your financial future'

How do you pay for long-term care?

Before you think about the likely costs of any care and support, it is important that you get information and advice about the options open to you, both about the type of services that might suit you and also whether your local council might contribute to the costs. If you don't you may make poor decisions about either the care you organise or about how you pay.

If you need 'nursing care' you may be entitled to funding from the NHS for all or part of the cost, you should ask your local social care services, hospital or GP whether you would be entitled to this.

Paying for Care website

A new impartial website has been launched that provides clear, impartial information and advice for people who are self-funding they social care. Use the site for Live Chat, giving you a chance to chat on line with specialist care fees advisers or request a telephone Call Back or Email reply service.

Visit the website

Different ways to pay

There are different ways to pay for long-term care. If you need care and support immediately or in the near future:

• Council's social services will assess your care needs and those of your carers.
• If your circumstances meet the conditions for support and you wish the council to pay towards the cost of services, they will then assess your income and capital. If they are below certain levels (locally set if you continue living in your own home, but nationally set if you decide to move into residential care) then the Council will pay some or all of your long-term care costs.
• The Council will also be able to help you with information about the choices you have for meeting your care needs and how to arrange care.
• Check what benefits you are entitled to. Not all benefits are means tested and, depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for Disability Living Allowance if you are under 65 or Attendance Allowance if you are over 65. 

If you don't qualify for financial help from the Council, you will normally have to pay the cost of care out of your own income and savings. If you move into residential care, the value of your home if you own one, will be taken into account and charge may be made on the property when you sell it.

It is important to make sure you find out as much as possible before making care funding decisions. There is a range of information to help you understand the way in which care can be funded and the other issues to consider in relation to your individual situation. You may then wish to take specialist financial advice before making any decisions. 

Getting independent financial advice