How should care costs in the UK be arranged? Family members can look at these points
In the UK, care costs require a needs assessment first, and carers can also apply for an assessment free of charge. Direct payment money must be used according to the plan in order to hire help. These are the situation in the UK; China's policies differ, but they can offer some reference for family members.
Machine translation of our Chinese article, without human translation review. Suggestions concerning China remain specific to China.
Automatically reviewed, without human verification. Programmatic checks are not professional review. Seek professional advice where appropriate. Automatically reviewed on 10/4/2026, 7:14:25 AM
Chinese fact summaries and suggestions for China (not a full translation)
Original: Personal budgets and direct payments - Social care and support guide - NHS · Original language: en
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Facts from the sources
The amount of the personal budget is decided by the local council based on the results of the needs assessment. View source
The carer's assessment is free, and anyone aged over 18 can request an assessment. View source
With direct payment funds, you can choose to employ a care worker who can help with going to the shops or taking part in social activities. View source
When choosing direct payments, the local council will pay the personal budget funds directly into a bank, post office, building society, or National Savings and Investments account. View source
If a direct payment is used for something not agreed in the care plan, the local council may recover the funds or stop the direct payment. View source
In England, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates all health and adult social care services. View source
For older people and families
When an older person in the UK needs care, the local council first carries out a needs assessment, then decides how much personal budget to provide. There is no equivalent practice in China, but family members can proactively ask their community whether there are any assessment or subsidy policies.
In the UK, carers (aged 18 and over) can request a carer's assessment free of charge and talk about what help they need. In China, family members can also tell their community about their difficulties and ask whether support is available.
In the UK, those who choose direct payments have the money paid into a designated account, used to hire someone to accompany an older person to the shops or to activities. In China, if you receive a subsidy, you should also use it according to the purpose for which you applied.
In the UK, if money is used outside the care plan, the council may recover the funds or stop payments. This reminds family members to keep receipts for subsidy funds and not spend them carelessly.
The UK has dedicated bodies that regulate care services. China does not have exactly the same bodies, but when choosing a care home, family members can look at qualifications and reputation.
See what care and community teams can do
In the UK, the amount of a personal budget depends on the needs assessment. Service providers should establish a corresponding relationship among "assessment, service, and use of funds." Chinese institutions can learn from this process, but must comply with local regulations.
In the UK, carer's assessments are free and open to adults. When professionals serve older people, they can proactively understand the burden on carers and provide them with referrals or information support.
Direct payments allow flexible hiring of staff for accompanied outings. Professional organisations can learn from this planning approach centred on the service user's wishes, but employment and subsidy rules in China are strict and cannot be copied directly.
Direct payment fund accounts and their uses are subject to restrictions. Organisations should help service users keep expenditure records, ensure funds are used for approved purposes, and avoid disputes arising from non-compliant use.
In England, the Care Quality Commission regulates all health and adult social care services. Service organisations should draw on this external oversight approach and improve their internal quality checks and complaint handling mechanisms.
What needs local assessment
The facts above come from information reviewed in November 2022 in the UK (mainly England). There are differences among local councils, and this does not constitute current policy in China. China's care assessment, subsidy, and regulatory mechanisms differ from those in the UK; please refer to the content published by local civil affairs, health, and medical insurance departments. This article is only a general introduction and does not provide specific application procedures or promises of amounts. If you need any actual services or financial support, please consult your local street office, community, or professional organisations, and ask professionals to verify relevant qualifications and regulations. 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 this site's independent Chinese translation and suggestions; it is not an official NHS translation or content approved by the NHS. 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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