Council care funding: am I eligible and how to apply?

By · Published 2026-06-30 · Last reviewed 2026-09-18

A smiling older couple pose cheek to cheek in a sunny garden.
Photo: Stannah International, CC BY 2.0

In England, the council helps pay for care if a needs assessment finds eligible care needs and a financial assessment shows the person cannot pay the full cost. For 2026/27, that usually means capital below £23,250, with the home often ignored. Apply by asking the council's adult social services for a needs assessment, which is free and open to anyone.

In England, the council will help pay for care if two things are true: a needs assessment finds the person has eligible care and support needs, and a financial assessment shows they cannot afford the full cost. For the 2026/27 financial year, council help with a care home usually starts when capital is below £23,250. The first step is simply to ask the council's adult social services for a needs assessment.

Both assessments are free. This guide covers England; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are summarised at the end.

How do you apply?

Contact the adult social services department of the council where the person lives. You can apply for a needs assessment through GOV.UK, which directs you to the right council, or phone the council directly. The NHS confirms that the needs assessment is free and anyone can ask for one.

You can ask on someone else's behalf, but they should agree unless they lack capacity to decide. Carers can ask for their own carer's assessment at the same time.

If needs are urgent, for example after a fall or when a carer is suddenly unable to cope, say so. The council can put care in place to meet urgent needs before assessments are finished.

What happens in the needs assessment?

A social worker or trained assessor talks to the person, and usually family or carers, about how they manage everyday life, what they want to achieve and what support they already have. It can be in person, by phone or online.

What are the eligibility criteria?

The Care and Support Statutory Guidance sets a national threshold. A person has eligible needs if all three of these apply:

  1. Their needs arise from a physical or mental impairment or illness.
  2. Because of those needs, they are unable to achieve two or more of the outcomes below.
  3. As a result, there is, or is likely to be, a significant impact on their wellbeing.

The outcomes are:

"Unable" includes being able to do something only with pain, distress or anxiety, in a way that endangers health or safety, or taking significantly longer than normal. Describe a typical bad day, not just a good one.

How does the financial assessment work?

If the person has eligible needs, the council works out what they can afford to pay. For 2026/27, the capital limits are £23,250 and £14,250:

For care at home, the home is always ignored, and councils may use higher capital limits. For a permanent care home placement, the home may count unless a partner or qualifying relative lives there, and it is ignored for the first 12 weeks. A person in a council-funded care home keeps a Personal Expenses Allowance, which for 2026/27 is £31.80 a week.

Some help is free regardless of means once someone is assessed as needing it, including small items of equipment and adaptations and short-term care to help recovery after hospital, a fall or illness.

What happens after the assessments?

  1. Care and support plan. The council agrees with the person how their needs will be met.
  2. Personal budget. The council tells them how much the care will cost and how much the council will pay.
  3. How the money is managed. The personal budget can be paid as a direct payment, arranged by the council, or managed by an organisation the person chooses.
  4. Choice of care home. If a care home is needed, the person has a right to choose, and the council must offer at least one affordable option. If they choose a more expensive home, a relative or friend can pay a top-up, under a written agreement.

What if you disagree with the decision?

Ask the council to explain its decision in writing, and request a review if you think something was missed. If that does not resolve it, use the council's formal complaints procedure. If you are still unhappy, you can go to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, which is free.

Keep notes of every conversation, including names and dates, and copies of letters and emails.

How is it different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

This article is general information. If the situation is complex, charities such as Age UK and Independent Age offer free advice, and a specialist care fees adviser can help with financial decisions.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a needs assessment if I will pay for my own care?

Yes. Anyone who appears to need care and support is entitled to a needs assessment, whatever their finances. It helps you understand what care is needed even if you pay yourself.

Does the council look at my children's income?

No. The financial assessment looks at the finances of the person needing care. Relatives only pay if they choose to, for example a voluntary top-up for a more expensive care home.

Will the council pay for care if someone has dementia?

Dementia is a condition like any other under the eligibility criteria. If it prevents the person achieving two or more outcomes and significantly affects their wellbeing, they have eligible needs. NHS continuing healthcare may apply if needs are mainly health needs.

How long does the process take?

It varies by council and by urgency. If needs are urgent, the council can arrange care straight away while assessments are carried out.

What if my relative refuses an assessment?

An adult with capacity can refuse an assessment. The council must still carry one out if it believes the person is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect, or if they lack capacity and an assessment is in their best interests.

Key takeaways