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Paying for your own care

What self-funders can still claim, the free help you are entitled to, and how to make care money last.

Carevo editorial team Updated 2 August 2026 Checked by Carevo editorial team, 2 August 2026

Figures on this page are 2026/27 tax year rates, checked 2 August 2026. UK benefit rates and care charging thresholds change every April.

Paying for your own care does not put you outside the system. Self-funders routinely miss out on money and support they are entitled to, simply because they assume having savings rules them out of everything.

It does not.

Claim the non-means-tested benefits

Attendance Allowance if you are State Pension age or over: £76.70 or £114.60 a week. Not means tested. Not taxable. Savings and property are irrelevant.

PIP if you are under State Pension age: up to £194.60 a week across both components. Also not means tested.

At the higher Attendance Allowance rate that is £5,959 a year towards your care costs, and it is the most commonly missed money in English social care.

Get a free needs assessment

Anyone can ask their council for a care needs assessment, whatever their savings. It is free.

Worth doing because it:

  • Establishes formally what care you need, useful later
  • Can lead to the council arranging care on your behalf, sometimes at its contracted rates
  • Identifies equipment and adaptations, some of which are free
  • Starts the relationship before you need it urgently

Check NHS Continuing Healthcare

CHC is not means tested. If your needs are primarily health needs, the NHS pays for everything regardless of your wealth.

Self-funders are the group least likely to be assessed for it and among those with the most to gain.

Plan for the threshold

The moment your capital approaches £23,250, the council becomes responsible for contributing.

Contact them before you get there. Assessments take weeks, and if your money runs below the limit before the council has assessed and agreed a package, you can end up covering the gap yourself.

A sensible trigger is when you have roughly three months of fees left above the threshold.

In a care home

Deferred payment agreements let the council pay your fees and recover the money from your estate later, so a house does not have to be sold quickly or at a bad time.

The 12 week property disregard ignores your property for the first 12 weeks of a permanent stay, which can bring the council in earlier than expected.

Top-up fees are paid by a third party where you choose a home costing more than the council would pay. You cannot normally top up from your own money once council funded. Understand who is liable before signing.

Make the money go further

  • Get three written quotes, and ask what is included
  • Ask about minimum visit lengths and enhanced rates
  • Review the care plan regularly, needs change in both directions
  • Claim every benefit you are entitled to, including Council Tax Reduction and Pension Credit
  • Consider direct payments if the council does fund part of your care

Where to get advice

Free and independent: Age UK, Citizens Advice, MoneyHelper and Carers UK.

Regulated financial advice: for care fees annuities and drawing down capital, look for an adviser accredited in later life advice. Check they are FCA regulated and ask clearly how they are paid.

Work out where you stand with our care fees means test calculator.

Common questions

Am I entitled to anything if I pay for my own care?

Yes, quite a lot. You can claim Attendance Allowance or PIP, neither of which is means tested. You are entitled to a free council needs assessment. You can be assessed for NHS Continuing Healthcare. And the council must give you information and advice even if it funds nothing.

When should I tell the council my money is running out?

Well before you reach £23,250. Assessments take time, and if you drop below the limit before the council has assessed you, you may have to fund the gap yourself. Contact them at roughly three months' worth of fees above the threshold.

Do self-funders pay more than councils?

Often yes, particularly in care homes, where self-funder rates commonly exceed the rates councils negotiate. This is well documented and is effectively a cross-subsidy of council-funded places.

Should I get financial advice?

If you are funding a care home place from capital, it is usually worth speaking to an adviser accredited in later life advice, who can explain options like care fees annuities. Check they are FCA regulated and ask how they are paid.

Sources

This page is general information about how care funding works in England. It is not financial, legal or medical advice, and it does not replace an assessment by your local council or the NHS. Carevo is not a care provider.