Care costs and benefits advice for people living at home

If you receive care at home, we will carry out a financial assessment to work out if you need to pay towards your support. This assessment looks at your income, savings and some household costs. We also check that you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to.

You do not need to pay for personal care. This includes help with washing, dressing, eating, continence support and meal preparation. 

What you may have to pay

What you pay depends on your financial situation and the support you receive. You will never pay more than the cost of your support or more than your agreed personal budget.

If your income is below the amount shown in the table below, you will not be asked to contribute. If your income is higher, we will include this in the assessment.

Services with a fixed weekly charge

Some services are not means-tested. This means everyone pays the same weekly rate, no matter their income. These services are:

• community alert alarm
• meals at home

How to arrange a care assessment

If you think you need support at home, you can contact your local social work office to ask for a care assessment. This assessment helps us understand what support would make your daily life easier and whether a financial assessment is needed.