Council Care Funding
How local councils fund adult social care — including the needs assessment, means test, care cap and what you have to contribute.
Key Facts
- You must have a care needs assessment to access council funding
- The means test currently has an upper threshold of £23,250 in England
- Below £14,250 in savings, the council funds all assessed care costs
- Care cap of £86,000 is being phased in — limits lifetime personal contribution
- Property is included in the means test only for residential care, not home care
- Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules
Getting a Needs Assessment
The first step to council funding is a free care needs assessment from your local adult social care department. You are entitled to request one — and the council must provide it regardless of your financial situation. The assessment looks at your care and support needs and whether they are 'eligible' under the Care Act 2014.
If your needs are eligible, the council must then arrange or fund care — though how much they contribute depends on your finances.
The Means Test
The financial assessment looks at your income, savings and capital. If you have more than £23,250 in savings and assets (the upper threshold in England), you currently pay the full cost of your care. Between £14,250 and £23,250, you make a contribution. Below £14,250, you pay only from your income.
For home care, your property is not included in the means test. Only for residential care (care homes) is the value of your home considered — and even then, it is excluded while a spouse or partner, certain relatives or a disabled person continues to live there.
What the Council Will Fund
The council sets a 'personal budget' — the amount they will contribute towards your assessed care. You receive this as a direct payment (cash) or the council arranges services for you. If you want care that costs more than the council's standard rate, you may need to 'top up' — either from your own funds or from a third party (often a family member).