Social care in the UK is mainly provided by local authorities (councils) and includes services such as residential homes, in-home support, and day services. The structure can be divided into two main categories::
- Adult Social Care: For older adults and younger people with disabilities.
- Children’s Social Care: For children who need support, including those in in local authority care.
Funding Sources
Government Funding
- Local Authority Funding: Local councils receive funding from the government to provide social care services. This funding comes from the Department of Health & Social Care’s budget. The first step is for your council to do an assessment to check how much help you need. This is called a needs assessment. The needs assessment is free and anyone can ask for one. Find out more about getting a needs assessment. If you need support, the council will then do a financial assessment (means test) to work out what you will have to pay towards the cost of your support.
The means test works out if:
- the council pays the maximum amount towards your support and you might have to pay a contribution too
- the council pays a smaller part of the cost and and you pay the rest
- you pay the full cost of your support
- The financial assessment is free. It can be arranged for you after your needs assessment. Read more about the financial assessment.
How the council pays for and arranges your support
If the council is going to pay towards your support, you'll get a personal budget. The amount will be worked out when the council makes a support plan with you.
You can choose to get your personal budget in 3 ways, or a combination of them:
- a direct payment into your bank account for you to use for some types of support – the council will usually ask for receipts to see you're spending the money on support
- the council arranges for your support and pays your providers for you
- an organisation you choose, such as an individual service fund, manages your personal budget for you
Personal Contributions
You will not be entitled to help with the cost of support from your local council if:
- you have savings worth more than £23,250 – this is called the upper capital limit, or UCL
- you own your own property (this only applies if you're moving into a care home)
You can ask your council for a financial assessment (means test) to check if you qualify for any help with costs.
How to arrange your support as a self-funder
You can:
- arrange and pay for support yourself without involving the council
- ask the council to arrange and pay for your support (the council will then bill you, but not all councils offer this service and they may charge a fee)
If your savings run out
If your savings fall below the upper capital limit of £23,250, your council might be able to help with the cost of support.
Contact your local council about 3 months before you think your savings will drop to below the limit and ask them to reassess your finances.
Councils provide funding from the date you contact them. You won't be reimbursed if your savings are below the limit before you contact them.
