The cost of live-in care is understandably one of the first questions families ask. But paying for care isn’t always as straightforward as simply covering the full cost yourself.
Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to receive help from your local authority, the NHS or certain benefits. Some families also use savings, income or the value of their home to fund care privately.
The rules around care funding can be complicated, particularly when you’re trying to make decisions for someone you love. This guide explains the main options available in England and where to get further financial advice.
How much does live-in care cost?
The cost of live-in care depends on the level of support required, where you live and the complexity of your care needs.
At Trinity Homecare, most clients currently pay between £1,645 and £1,925 per week for live-in care. This includes a carefully matched carer, training, vetting, supervision, ongoing care management, emergency cover and clinical escalation where needed. Your actual cost will depend on your individual circumstances.
It’s worth looking at the total cost of care rather than simply comparing the weekly fee. The amount you pay may be affected by financial support you’re entitled to, while the cost of other care arrangements can include accommodation, nursing or additional services.
Can you get help paying for live-in care?
There are several possible sources of financial support.
Local authority funding
If you need help with care and support, your first step should usually be a care needs assessment from your local authority.
The assessment looks at your care needs and whether you meet the national eligibility criteria. If you have eligible needs, the council can then carry out a financial assessment, often called a means test, to work out whether you need to contribute towards the cost of your care.
In England, the capital limits for 2026/27 are:
- £14,250 lower capital limit
- £23,250 upper capital limit
If your capital is above the upper limit, you will generally be expected to pay for your own care, subject to the detailed rules and the type of care you’re receiving. If your capital falls between the two limits, the council may take some of it into account when calculating your contribution.
The financial assessment looks at more than savings in a bank account. Depending on your circumstances, it can consider income, savings, investments and property.
The treatment of your home can be particularly complicated, so it’s worth getting advice before making decisions about selling or transferring property.
NHS Continuing Healthcare
Some people with significant or complex health needs may qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC).
Unlike local authority social care funding, NHS Continuing Healthcare isn’t means-tested. If you’re eligible, the NHS can fund a package of care designed to meet your assessed health and care needs. It can be provided in different settings, including someone’s own home.
Eligibility is based on the nature, complexity, intensity and unpredictability of your healthcare needs rather than your savings or income.
The assessment process can be complex. If you think you or your loved one may qualify, speak to the relevant healthcare professional or Integrated Care Board about an assessment.
NHS-funded nursing care
NHS funded nursing care is different from NHS Continuing Healthcare.
It’s generally relevant to people living in a care home who need care from a registered nurse. The NHS pays a contribution towards the nursing element of their care.
This isn’t the same as NHS Continuing Healthcare and doesn’t mean that all care costs are covered.
If you’re unsure which type of NHS funding may apply, your healthcare team can explain the options.
Benefits that could help with care costs
Benefits don’t usually pay for live-in care in full, but some can provide extra income that can be put towards care costs.
Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit for people who have reached State Pension age and need help with personal care or supervision because of a disability or health condition.
It isn’t means-tested, so your income and savings don’t affect whether you can receive it. The amount depends on the level of help you need. For 2026/27, the rates are £76.70 or £114.60 a week.
Attendance Allowance doesn’t pay for care directly, but it can contribute towards the cost.
Pension Credit
If you’re on a low income, you may be entitled to Pension Credit. It’s separate from your State Pension and can also provide access to other support, depending on your circumstances.
It’s worth checking your eligibility even if you have some savings or own your home, as entitlement depends on your individual circumstances.
Council Tax Reduction
Some people receiving care or certain benefits may be eligible for help with their Council Tax. The rules vary depending on your circumstances and where you live, so check with your local authority.
Carer’s Allowance
If a family member provides at least 35 hours of care per week to someone who receives a qualifying disability benefit, they may be eligible for Carer’s Allowance, subject to the eligibility and earnings rules.
For 2026/27, Carer’s Allowance is £86.45 a week, with an earnings limit of £204 a week.
If you’re arranging professional live-in care, this benefit may no longer apply in the same way because the amount of unpaid care a family member provides can change. It’s worth checking the current rules rather than assuming you’re eligible.
For more information on financial assistance and funding, take a look at Trinity Homecare’s financing and funding home care guide.
Self-funding live-in care
Many people pay for some or all of their care themselves.
This is known as self-funding. You may need to self-fund if your capital is above the relevant local authority threshold, if you don’t qualify for NHS funding, or if you choose care that isn’t funded by the local authority.
Self-funding doesn’t necessarily mean relying solely on savings.
Families may use a combination of:
- Pension or other regular income
- Savings and investments
- Benefits they’re entitled to
- Rental income
- The sale of assets
- Financial products such as an annuity
- Equity released from a property
Before using a large amount of savings or selling a property, it’s sensible to take independent financial advice.
Could an annuity help pay for care?
A care fees annuity, sometimes called an immediate needs annuity, is a financial product designed to provide a regular income towards care costs.
You pay a lump sum to an insurer in return for an agreed income. Depending on the product and circumstances, the income may be paid directly towards care costs.
The amount required and income provided will depend on factors such as age, health and the level of care costs. An annuity isn’t suitable for everyone, so independent regulated financial advice is important before making a decision.
What about equity release?
If you own a property, you may consider using some of its value to help fund care.
Equity release generally involves borrowing against the value of your home or, with a home reversion plan, selling some or all of the property to a provider in return for a lump sum or regular payments.
The products, costs, interest and long-term implications can vary significantly. Equity release can affect the value of your estate and may affect your entitlement to some means-tested benefits.
It isn’t a decision to make simply because you need to pay for care. Speak to a suitably qualified financial adviser before considering it.
The Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA) provides a directory of accredited later-life financial advisers who can advise on areas including care funding and equity release.
Could I defer care costs instead?
A Deferred Payment Agreement (DPA) is a scheme run by local authorities that can allow eligible people to delay paying some care costs by using the value of their home.
However, it’s important to understand what the scheme is designed for. In England, DPAs relate primarily to care in a care home or certain supported living arrangements. They’re not a general scheme for deferring the cost of private live-in care in your own home.
Where someone is eligible, the council can pay care costs on an interim basis and recover the money later, usually when the property is sold or after the person’s death. Interest and administration charges may apply.
If you’re considering a DPA, speak to your local authority about eligibility and get independent financial advice before making a decision.
Can you give away money or property to qualify for care funding?
It’s important not to deliberately reduce your assets simply to try to qualify for local authority funding.
For example, giving away savings or selling a property for significantly less than its value could be considered a deliberate deprivation of assets if avoiding care charges was a significant reason for doing so.
Your local authority can investigate the circumstances surrounding a reduction in your assets when carrying out a financial assessment.
If you’re considering giving money or property to family members, get independent financial and legal advice first. Don’t assume that transferring an asset will remove it from a future care assessment.
What if I own my home?
Your home is one of the most complicated parts of care funding because how it is treated can depend on the type of care you’re receiving and who lives there.
For example, different rules can apply where a spouse or partner, certain relatives or another qualifying person continues to live in the property.
If you’re receiving care in your own home, the value of your main home is generally treated differently from someone moving permanently into a care home. The detailed rules are individual, so don’t assume that owning a property automatically means you’ll have to sell it to pay for care.
A financial adviser who specialises in later-life planning can help you understand how your particular circumstances could affect your options.
Do I have to sell my home to pay for care?
Not necessarily. Whether your home needs to be sold depends on the type of care you’re receiving, your financial circumstances, who lives in the property and whether you qualify for financial support.
If you’re considering selling your home to fund care, it’s worth getting independent financial advice before making a decision. A Deferred Payment Agreement may also be relevant in some care home circumstances, although it isn’t a general funding route for private live-in care at home.
What if I can’t afford live-in care?
If the cost of live-in care feels out of reach, don’t assume that private care is your only option or that you need to make an immediate decision about selling your home.
Start with a care needs assessment through your local authority and ask whether you’re eligible for any financial support. You can also check benefits such as Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit.
If NHS Continuing Healthcare may be appropriate because of complex health needs, ask your healthcare team about an assessment.
If you still need to self-fund, an accredited later-life financial adviser can help you look at the options available to you rather than relying on one source of funding.
Where can I get independent advice about care funding?
Care funding can involve decisions about savings, property, pensions, investments and benefits. A care provider can explain its own fees, but shouldn’t be your only source of financial advice.
Useful places to start include:
- Your local authority, for a care needs assessment and financial assessment
- NHS or your healthcare team, if you may qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare
- GOV.UK, for current information about benefits and social care funding
- SOLLA, to find an accredited later-life financial adviser who can advise on care funding, property and other financial options
How to arrange live-in care with Trinity Homecare
Once you’ve explored your funding options, arranging care doesn’t need to be complicated.
At Trinity Homecare, the process starts with a free, no-obligation assessment. We’ll talk through the level of support needed, your preferences and what matters to you at home.
From there, our care team can create a personalised care plan and use our MatchCare approach to find a suitable carer. Your care can then be reviewed as your needs change.
Trinity is a fully managed, regulated care provider rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission. Our live-in care service includes carer training, vetting, matching, supervision, ongoing care management, emergency cover and clinical escalation where needed.
Frequently asked questions
Does the NHS pay for live-in care?
In some circumstances, NHS Continuing Healthcare can fund a package of care for someone who has eligible health needs, including care provided in their own home. It’s not means-tested, but eligibility depends on an assessment of your healthcare needs.
How much savings can I have before I have to pay for care?
For local authority means-tested care in England, the upper capital limit remains £23,250 in 2026/27, with a lower capital limit of £14,250. Your income, capital and individual circumstances all matter, so the threshold shouldn’t be treated as a simple rule that tells you exactly what you’ll pay.
Is Attendance Allowance means-tested?
No. Attendance Allowance isn’t means-tested, so your income and savings don’t affect whether you can receive it. Eligibility is based on the help or supervision you need because of a disability or health condition.
Can I use Attendance Allowance to pay for live-in care?
Attendance Allowance can be used towards your general care and living costs, including contributing towards private care. It doesn’t cover the full cost of live-in care.
Can I use equity release to pay for live-in care?
Potentially, but equity release is a significant financial decision. Different products work in different ways and can affect your estate and other finances. Get advice from a regulated financial adviser before proceeding.
Can I use a Deferred Payment Agreement to pay for live-in care?
Generally, Deferred Payment Agreements are designed around care in a care home or certain supported living arrangements rather than private live-in care in your own home. Your local authority can explain whether you meet the eligibility criteria.
Can my family pay for my live-in care?
Yes. Family members can contribute towards the cost of care if they choose to, although it’s important to consider the financial and legal implications of any arrangement. Independent financial advice can be helpful where significant sums are involved.
How quickly can Trinity arrange live-in care?
Trinity can often arrange live-in care within 24 hours, subject to an assessment, availability and finding a suitable carer. We’ll discuss your circumstances and timescale with you when you contact us.
Can Trinity help me understand my funding options?
We can explain the cost of our care, how our service works and where you can find further information about funding. For personalised financial advice about pensions, investments, property or care funding, we recommend speaking to an appropriately qualified independent financial adviser.
Talk to Trinity Homecare
If you’re considering live-in care and aren’t sure how you’ll fund it, our team can explain the cost of care and help you understand what happens next.
Call Trinity Homecare on 0207 183 4884, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm & Saturday, 10am to 4pm, or make an enquiry online.
