How is extra care funded?
Depending on your circumstances, your local council might pay for all or some of the costs of providing extra care. To determine how much, if any, of the costs it will pay, your local council will conduct an assessment.
In England and Wales, local councils have a legal duty to assess anyone who appears to need care and support, regardless of how much money that person has. This is called a care needs assessment. It takes into account your circumstances, abilities and needs, and determines what sort of care and support is best for you.
If, following a care needs assessment, your council decides you’re eligible for extra care, they’ll look at your financial situation and discuss with you whether they will pay for all or part of your support, whether you have to pay something towards it, or whether you have to pay for all of it.
This will depend on your circumstances, and the council’s budget and funding criteria.
If you are eligible for council-funded support, you may be able to choose how your money is managed. Some people have their support funding managed by a social worker, while others choose to have it paid directly to them so they have more control over how to spend it which is called a direct payment.
