Paying for social care
You can use the information and links on this page find out who would contribute to social care costs. You can also find out the different ways people can receive money to pay for social care.
Will I have to pay for any of my social care costs? Who meets the cost of my personal budget?
Social services will carry out a financial assessment, looking mainly at the savings you have. Some people have their care funded entirely by social services. Some people have to contribute to the cost of their care, and some people have to pay for all of it.
Whether you pay for social care depends on how much money you have. Each country in the UK sets different limits on your savings, investment and income. They usually disregard your salary.
The value of your property will count only in some circumstances. For example: it might count if you are moving into residential care, or if you have another home in which you do not live.
See Moneyhelper: Local authority funding for care costs – do you qualify?
How do I pay for care? How is my personal budget managed?
You can pay for care in a few different ways. You can talk to your social worker and decide how you will receive the money for your personal budget.
You can ask the local authority to:
- manage your personal budget for you
- pay the money to another organisation – such as a care provider or a direct payment support service (DPSS).
- pay the money directly to you or to someone you choose – this is known as a direct payment
To find out more about the many different options, see the Personal Budgets Guide from Disability Rights UK
If the local authority manages your money
The local authority will make the payments for you. Using your agreed care plan, they will sort all your care and support.
The local authority still needs to check you're happy with the care you receive.
If your money is paid to another organisation
The organisation you choose, for example your care provider, will speak to the local authority and arrange the payments.
Sometimes other organisations charge you extra money to arrange payments from the local authority.
The advantages of direct payments
Direct payments give you more choice and control over your care and support.
For example, you could choose to have a care worker or personal assistants (PAs). These don’t have to be people who work for a care agency.
It is always recommended that you have in-depth conversations and interviews with your PAs before working with them.