Paying care home fees

Paying care home fees

If you're entering a care home, you'll have to make some contribution towards the fees. The amount of contribution you have to make depends upon several things, such as how much capital you have and the care home you choose.

If you move into a care home, you need to have an assessment of your care needs, even if you’ve had one while living at home, as your circumstances have now changed.

Find out about the assessment of your care needs and financial assessment

You may have one or more of the following questions:

• Can I still get help if I have savings? See Capital limits
• What happens to my home? See Treatment of your home
• Will I need to sell my home? See Selling your home
• What about my personal and nursing care? See Personal and nursing care in a care home
• What type of contract do I need? See Contract routes
• What rate will I have to pay? See Standard rates
• What income is counted when calculated what I have to pay? See Treatment of income
• Can my relatives be charged for my care home fees? See Liable relatives
• Can I keep some of my income for personal items? See Personal expenses allowance and savings disregard
• What if I choose a care home that charges more than the Local Authority will pay? See Additional charges (top-up fees)
• Does my home count as part of my capital? See Property disregard
• What if I give my house to a relative? See Deprivation of capital
• Can I postpone selling my house to pay my fees? See Deferred payment

Further information

The payment of care home fees is a complex subject and depends on many things which are unique to you.

If you want detailed information or personal advice, ask an experienced independent adviser like:

Advice Direct Scotland – phone 0808 800 9060, 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Citizens Advice Scotland – find contact details for your local bureau

Age Scotland – its fact sheets have information on paying for care homes, or phone their helpline on 0800 12 44 222.