Real, practical help with paying for home care.
Working out how to pay for home care can feel like the hardest part of the whole process. Some people pay for their care themselves, some get help from the NHS or their local council, and most families end up with a mix of both. Below is an honest overview of the main sources of financial help available in the UK, with a focus on Lincolnshire, to help you start the conversation with the right people.
A tax-free weekly benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care because of an illness or disability. It isn't means-tested, so your savings and income don't affect your claim, and it isn't dependent on having a carer already in place.
Where someone has significant, ongoing health needs, the NHS can fully fund their care, including care at home, following an assessment. It's based on assessed need rather than a specific diagnosis, so it's worth asking for a checklist assessment if health needs are complex.
As the local authority for our area, Lincolnshire County Council can carry out a care needs assessment, and, if you're eligible, a financial assessment to work out what they can contribute towards your care costs. Anyone can request an assessment, regardless of income.
If the council agrees to fund some of your care, you can often choose to take that money as a Direct Payment instead of having the council arrange services for you. This gives you more control over who provides your care and when.
This is paid to the family member or friend doing the caring, not the person receiving care. It's worth checking if you provide regular unpaid care for someone with an eligible disability benefit, as it's often overlooked.
Age UK, Carers UK, MoneyHelper and Independent Age all offer free, impartial guidance on paying for care, benefits you may be entitled to, and how financial assessments work. None of them will try to sell you anything.
Charisma Services is a home care provider, not a financial adviser, and this page is general information rather than personal advice. Benefit rules, rates and thresholds change over time, so please confirm current eligibility and figures directly with the organisation concerned or on gov.uk before making any decisions.
Not necessarily. Some people pay for all of their care privately, known as self-funding, while others get some or all of their costs covered by the NHS or their local council. It depends on your health needs, your income and savings, and the outcome of a care needs assessment. The only way to know where you stand is to ask for an assessment.
A care needs assessment is a conversation with your local council about the support you need day to day. It's free and anyone can ask for one, regardless of how much you earn or have in savings. In Lincolnshire, you can request one through Lincolnshire County Council, and gov.uk can point you to the right local contact.
Attendance Allowance is a benefit paid to you to help with the extra cost of personal care, and you can spend it however you choose, including on care from us. NHS Continuing Healthcare is different: it's a fully funded package of care arranged after an NHS assessment, for people with significant, ongoing health needs. You may be eligible for one, both, or neither, depending on your circumstances.
Yes. Self-funding doesn't mean you're on your own. You can still ask Lincolnshire County Council for a care needs assessment, and organisations like Age UK and Independent Age offer free guidance to self-funders on managing costs, understanding contracts and making sure money is being spent well.
A financial assessment usually follows a care needs assessment, once the council has agreed you have eligible care needs. The council will look at your income, savings and outgoings to work out what, if anything, you'll be asked to contribute. Contact Lincolnshire County Council's adult care team to start the process, or use the gov.uk link above to be directed to the right place.
Direct Payments are money the council pays to you, rather than arranging care on your behalf, so you can choose and pay your own care provider directly, such as Charisma Services. They suit people who want more say over who comes into their home and when. Your social worker can talk you through whether it's a good fit.
Possibly. Carer's Allowance is available to people who provide regular, substantial unpaid care for someone receiving an eligible disability benefit, subject to earnings limits. Carers UK is a good starting point for a full benefits check, and you can also ask the council for a separate carer's assessment, which looks at support for you, not just the person you care for.
Age UK, Carers UK, MoneyHelper and Independent Age all offer free, impartial advice by phone and online, and none of them will try to sell you anything. It's worth speaking to them alongside Lincolnshire County Council, as they can help you understand your options before you commit to anything.
We can't give financial advice, but we're happy to talk through what care might look like and what it costs, so you have real numbers to take to the council or a benefits adviser.