Are there benefits or funding available for live-in care? It is often assumed that live in care must be paid for privately, but that is not always the case…….. The amount you can receive, if any, is means-tested through a financial assessment, carried out by your local authority, which takes into account the value of your property, your savings and your other assets.
In England (Scotland differs), if your total assets are less than £14,250 then all of your care will be funded. At the other end of the spectrum, if your assets are more than £23,250 then you will have to pay for your care in full.
If you have to pay for your own care, there may be some benefits and allowances, (that are not means-tested) for which you are eligible, such as Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payments (PIP).
When calculating the value of your assets, a property that continues to be lived in by yourself, a partner, or a dependent is not included. This means that when funding or benefits for live-in care are being considered, the value of your property is excluded.
NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding for Live-in care
Another option for funding for live-in care is NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding. Continuing Healthcare (CHC) funding is a whole package of ongoing care arranged and funded by the NHS for people outside of hospital who have a high level of ongoing health needs. To receive the funding you must be ‘over 18 and have a complex medical condition and substantial and ongoing care needs’.
Eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare is not dependent on a diagnosis or condition. A diagnosis of dementia, for example, doesn’t necessarily mean you will qualify. To determine whether you are eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding, you will be initially assessed by a multidisciplinary team of health professionals, (comma) who will assess the nature and complexity of your needs, how unpredictable your condition is, and the overall risk to your health if the right support is not given at the right time.
Carers and family members may also be consulted through this initial assessment and you will also be expected to be fully involved. A decision is usually made within 28 days of the initial assessment or there may be a request for a full assessment. If you are approved for NHS Continuing Healthcare then it’s the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) who decides on the appropriate package of support.
Chesterford Homecare has been providing high quality homecare for families in Essex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Hertfordshire for nearly a decade. We work mainly with private clients who are paying for their own care, but we are happy to advise where we can on any benefits that may be available to help with costs full stop. Please give us a call any time on 0800 411 8636 to discuss your needs.
