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If you are paying for care and worried about money running out, start planning early. No one knows how long they will need care or if their needs will change. Even with careful budgeting, unexpected things can happen. That’s why it’s important to know what will happen, and who will pay, if your savings run out.

Always seek independent financial advice.

How to find out if you are eligible for funding

If you or someone you care about might run out of money soon, start planning a few months ahead. You should contact us at least 3 months before your savings drop to the upper capital limit. The capital limits from April 2025 are:

• £23,250 or above for residential services
• £24,500 or above for care in your home

We will ask you to do a social care needs assessment and a financial assessment. We use this to understand your current care needs and see what financial support you might get.

To be eligible for funding you must:

• have eligible care needs
• have income, savings and assets below the upper limit

If you meet both criteria, you may get help with care costs from the county council. We will then work out what you need to pay towards your care.

In some cases, the care you get may be more than we are able to fund as we have agreed costs that we can pay to local providers. In these circumstances, you can:

• ask a family member to make top-up payments to make up the difference
• think about how you could increase your income
• change provider or care home

What are top-up payments?

If you choose a care home that costs more than we can pay, someone else, like a family member, can pay the extra. This extra money is called a “top-up payment.” It helps cover the difference between what we can pay and what the care home charges.

For more on this see .

How you could increase your income

Check what welfare benefits or other help you are entitled to. It’s important to make sure that you get all the help that you’re entitled to.

Check if you can get any benefits

You may be eligible for non-means-tested benefits including:

• (for those over 65). This is for people who need help with personal care due to a disability or illness.
• (PIP). This is for people who need help with personal care or mobility, regardless of age.

Non-means tested benefits don’t depend on how much income or savings you have.

Think about a deferred payment

A deferred payment is a way to help pay for care home costs if most of your money is tied up in your house. Instead of selling your home right away, we pay for your care now and you pay us back later. To find out more see Deferred payments.

Check if you can get free support

You may be eligible for free NHS care, including:

• NHS continuing healthcare
• NHS-funded nursing care
• care after illness or hospital discharge

If you are still living at home, you may be able to get:

• free equipment
• a grant to adapt your home

What happens if I can’t raise more funds?

If you meet the eligibility criteria, we will offer you at least one care home in budget. Speak to your current provider to see if they are happy for you to stay while we sort this out.

Deprivation of assets

If you gave away money or capital assets to avoid paying for your care we may consider this a . This will depend on:

• why you gave your money or assets away
• when you gave your money or assets away
• if you could have foreseen your need for care and support

If we decide the sole or main purpose was to reduce the amount you pay towards your care, we will take it into account. In some cases, we can ask the person you gave the money or assets to pay some or all of your care costs.