Elderly care cost assessment in England: a few things families can find out first
In England, when an older person who needs care has savings below 23,250 pounds, the local council will often help pay for care. The financial assessment is free, and usually does not look at information about personal possessions or life insurance. Understanding these rules can help families arrange later care in advance.
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Original: Financial assessment (means test) for social care - Social care and support guide - NHS · Original language: en
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Facts from the sources
In England, if savings are below 23,250 pounds, the local council will usually help pay care costs. View source
The financial assessment is free and takes place after a needs assessment or carer's assessment; the person does not need to apply themselves. View source
Financial assessments usually do not require information about the value of personal possessions and life insurance policies. View source
If the local council believes that you deliberately reduced your assets before the assessment, it may stop providing you with any type of financial help. View source
When living in a care home long-term, the value of a house is usually included in the financial assessment; however, if certain relatives still live there, it may not be included. View source
Those who are eligible can receive a personal budget in two ways: a monthly direct payment to a bank account, or the council arranges care and regularly sends a bill to be paid. View source
For older people and families
An older person living in England with savings below 23,250 pounds will often have the local council help pay care costs; the specific outcome is subject to assessment.
A financial assessment comes after a needs assessment. It is free, and you do not need to apply for it yourself.
A financial assessment generally does not ask about the value of personal possessions or life insurance policies, but other assets may still be asked about, so answer truthfully.
If you deliberately transfer property before the assessment, the council may decide that you have deliberately reduced your assets, and you may instead lose help. Do not do this.
When a person lives in a care home long term, the value of a house is usually counted as an asset; if certain relatives live there, it may not be counted.
If eligible, a personal budget can be received: either a monthly payment to your bank account, or the council arranges care and the bill is paid after receiving it.
See what care and community teams can do
First confirm whether the older person lives in England, and then cite England's care funding rules, to avoid confusion.
Explain that the financial assessment takes place after the needs assessment, is free, and the person does not need to apply proactively.
Tell the older person that they generally do not need to declare the value of personal possessions or life insurance information, but assessment officers may still ask about other assets.
If the older person is considering transferring assets to receive funding, remind them that deliberate asset reduction may be decided by the council and financial help may be stopped.
Explain the conditions for including a property: when living long-term in a care home it is usually included, with an exception if certain relatives live there; the council decides.
Introduce the two ways of receiving a personal budget, so the older person can choose direct payments or council-arranged care according to their own ability to manage.
What needs local assessment
The above content only introduces the social care financial assessment rules in England, UK, and does not constitute current policy in mainland China. Elderly care allowances, long-term care insurance and asset accounting in China vary by locality; please follow the answers of local civil affairs, medical insurance, sub-district and other departments. For medical, legal, financial and other questions, please consult relevant professionals. The specific thresholds and calculations in the UK must be assessed by the local council; do not judge solely on this information. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Information from the NHS website is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. This article is an independent Chinese-language compilation and recommendation by this website, and is not an official NHS translation or content approved by it. Licence: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
Sources
UK National Health Service (NHS)Was this article helpful?
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