Navigating the world of home care funding can be confusing. Whether you’re exploring options for yourself or a loved one, understanding the different avenues for financial support is crucial. This guide will walk you through the various options available, helping you make informed decisions and access the resources that best suit your needs.
Funding Support From Local Councils
Your local council can be a valuable source of funding for home care. To determine your eligibility and access support, you’ll need to follow a process that involves a care needs assessment and a means test.
Asking your council for a care needs assessment
To access council support, the first step is to request a care needs assessment. This assessment evaluates your care requirements and determines the types of services that could best address those needs. It’s crucial to be as detailed as possible when describing your situation during the assessment.
Means testing
If the council determines you have eligible care needs after the assessment, they’ll conduct a financial assessment, often called a “means test.” This assessment examines your income and capital (savings, investments, etc.) to determine your eligibility for financial assistance with care costs. The amount of support you receive will depend on your financial circumstances.
Self-Funding
If you don’t qualify for council funding or prefer to have more control over your care choices, self-funding is an option. This involves paying for your home care services directly. While it requires more financial planning, it can offer greater flexibility and choice in the type and frequency of care received.
Direct Debit
Direct Payments are funds provided directly to you by your local authority to arrange your own care. Instead of the council organising services on your behalf, you choose who supports you and how you are supported. This gives you the freedom to create a care plan that works around your life, not the other way around.
You can use Direct Payments to:
- Hire a Personal Assistant (PA) for regular, one-to-one support
- Pay for home care services from a registered agency like React Homecare
- Combine both – a PA for some tasks, and agency support for others
We can:
- Work alongside your existing PA(s) to fill in gaps or offer specialist support
- Tailor care packages to suit your Direct Payment budget
- Support you with flexible hours, whether it’s daily visits, occasional cover, or weekend support
- Provide detailed invoices and records to help with your payment tracking and council reporting
NHS Continuing Healthcare
In certain cases, the NHS may provide funding for home care through NHS Continuing Healthcare. This applies to individuals with complex or ongoing healthcare needs that require a high level of support. To be eligible, you’ll need to undergo an assessment by a multi-disciplinary team to determine if your needs are primarily health-related.
Other Support Options
In addition to the main funding avenues, there are other support options that can help with the costs of home care or provide financial assistance for related expenses:
- Attendance Allowance: This is a benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care due to a physical or mental disability.
- PIP payments: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit for people who have a long-term health condition or disability and need help with daily living activities or getting around.
- Carer’s Allowance: This is a benefit for people who provide regular care to someone with a disability or illness.
