NHS-Funded Nursing Care (FNC): Who Gets It and How Much
By CareFinder Team · Published 2026-06-30 · Last reviewed 2026-09-18
NHS-funded nursing care (FNC) is a weekly payment the NHS makes straight to a nursing home for residents assessed as needing care from a registered nurse but not eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare. In England the standard rate is £267.68 a week for 2026/27. FNC is not means-tested, so self-funders get it too, and the rest of the fee is paid by the resident or council.
NHS-funded nursing care, usually called FNC, is a weekly contribution the NHS pays directly to a nursing home towards the cost of care from registered nurses. It is for residents who need a registered nurse but do not qualify for full NHS Continuing Healthcare. It is not means-tested, so it applies whether the resident pays their own fees or the council helps.
This guide covers England. The other UK nations handle nursing care differently, as explained below.
What is NHS-funded nursing care?
FNC pays for the time a registered nurse spends caring for a resident: providing nursing care, and planning, supervising or delegating care that a nurse ought to oversee. According to the national framework, it does not cover time spent by care assistants on other care, or the cost of accommodation and food.
Key points:
- It is paid by the local integrated care board (ICB) directly to the care home, not to the resident.
- It only applies in a care home registered to provide nursing care, not in a residential home or someone's own house.
- It is a flat-rate payment set nationally, not a bespoke amount.
- It is not means-tested.
How much is FNC?
For 2026/27, the NHS gives these rates in England from 1 April 2026:
- Standard rate: £267.68 a week.
- Higher rate: £368.24 a week, only for people who were on the high band of the old three-band system before 1 October 2007 and whose needs still meet it.
The rate is set by the Department of Health and Social Care each financial year, so check the NHS page for the current figure.
Who is eligible?
A resident qualifies when:
- they live in, or are moving into, a care home that provides nursing care;
- a nursing needs assessment shows they need care from a registered nurse; and
- they are not eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare.
The framework says Continuing Healthcare must always be considered first. Usually a short screening tool, the Checklist, is completed. A negative Checklist does not rule out FNC; it just means a full Continuing Healthcare assessment is not needed at that time. If the Checklist is positive, a team completes a fuller assessment using the Decision Support Tool.
How is FNC different from NHS Continuing Healthcare?
| NHS Continuing Healthcare | NHS-funded nursing care | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | People whose needs are primarily health needs | People who need a registered nurse but don't qualify for Continuing Healthcare |
| What it pays | The whole care package, including care home fees | A fixed weekly contribution towards nursing only |
| Where | Any setting, including home | Nursing homes only |
| Means-tested? | No | No |
NHS Continuing Healthcare is worth far more, so make sure it has been properly considered before accepting FNC alone.
How should FNC show on the bill?
The framework says the care home sets one overall fee for care and accommodation, including nursing. The ICB pays the FNC amount to the home, and the balance is paid by the resident, their representative or the council.
In practice:
- Self-funders should pay the home's total fee minus the FNC payment. Ask for an invoice that shows the gross fee, the FNC deduction and the amount you owe.
- Council-funded residents have the FNC paid to the home by the NHS, with the council and the resident's own contribution covering the rest.
If an invoice does not show FNC, ask the home whether the ICB has approved it and whether the quoted fee is before or after the payment. Homes should be transparent about this in their contract terms.
How are FNC decisions reviewed?
FNC continues until, on review, the person no longer needs a registered nurse, leaves the nursing home, becomes eligible for Continuing Healthcare, or dies. At each FNC review, the NHS must reconsider Continuing Healthcare, usually by completing a new Checklist unless needs have clearly not changed.
If you disagree with a decision:
- ask the ICB for the decision and its reasons in writing, with a copy of the Checklist or assessment;
- ask for a review, setting out which needs you think were missed;
- if still unhappy after the NHS process, complain to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
If your relative's health gets worse, ask for a reassessment rather than waiting for the next review.
What about Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
- Scotland: adults assessed as needing nursing care in a care home receive a weekly nursing care payment, alongside the personal care payment. mygov.scot lists £117.10 a week from 1 April 2026.
- Wales: the NHS in Wales pays its own funded nursing care rate to nursing homes. Ask the local health board for the current figure.
- Northern Ireland: the Health and Social Care Trust pays towards nursing care for people assessed as needing it in a nursing home; nidirect gives this as £100 a week.
This is general information. For a specific funding dispute, get advice from an independent advocate, a solicitor who specialises in NHS funding, or a charity such as Age UK.
Frequently asked questions
Do self-funders get FNC?
Yes. FNC is based on need for registered nursing care, not money. A self-funder in a nursing home who needs a registered nurse should have the FNC amount paid to the home and deducted from what they pay.
Do we need to apply for FNC?
Not usually. The ICB arranges an assessment, often when someone moves into a nursing home or leaves hospital. If you think it has been missed, ask the home, the GP or the ICB to arrange one.
Can someone get FNC in a residential home?
No. FNC only applies in homes registered to provide nursing care. In a residential home, community nurses visit instead, and their care is free as it is for anyone.
What if my relative's needs increase?
Ask for a review. At every FNC review, the NHS must consider whether Continuing Healthcare is now appropriate, and that would cover the whole fee.
Does FNC affect Attendance Allowance?
FNC itself does not. Attendance Allowance can still be paid to self-funders in a care home, but cannot usually be paid if the council pays for the care; tell the DWP about any move.
Key takeaways
- FNC is a flat NHS payment to a nursing home for registered nursing care, not means-tested.
- In England for 2026/27 it is £267.68 a week, with a higher rate only for some long-standing residents.
- Continuing Healthcare must be considered before FNC, and again at each review.
- Self-funders should pay the home's fee minus FNC; ask for an itemised invoice.
- Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland pay their own nursing contributions.