This content applies to England only.

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If you are finding it difficult to manage living at home, it may be possible to get your home adapted so that it is suitable for your needs and for you to get help to stay in your home. You will need to have an assessment of your care needs carried out by the social services department of your local council.

Find the contact details for your local council. You can also ask your GP to make a referral to social services to have a needs assessment.

Care at home - what help do I need?

After your assessment, the social services department should decide how much care you require and draw up a care plan for you. You are entitled to a written copy of your assessment and care plan, so ask if you don’t receive one.

What kind of help can I get?

Care at home can include:

• adaptations and special equipment to help you with your daily life, such as a raised chair or bed, or equipment to help you get in and out of the bath
• home helps to assist with general household tasks
• personal care to help you with personal needs such as washing and dressing
• meals on wheels if you have difficulty cooking for yourself
• access to lunch and social clubs
• access to a day care centre
• respite care to allow you and your carer to have a rest from each other.

The services you receive may be provided by the council, for example, by social services, the housing department, the health service or by other agencies.
If you are going to get care at home following an assessment of your care needs by social services, they may decide that you have to pay for some of the help you receive after looking at your circumstances.

What if I need nursing care?

Some people with acute and complex medical needs are entitled to have the full cost of their care (including care provided in their own home) paid for by the NHS. This is called 'NHS continuing healthcare' funding. If you think you may qualify, ask your GP, hospital consultant, district nurses team or other medical professionals to arrange an assessment.

If you are not satisfied with their response, or you disagree with the decision made, get advice. NHS continuing healthcare funding is not easy to get but getting help from an adviser may increase your chances of a successful assessment or appeal.

You can download a leaflet about NHS continuing care funding from the Department of Health website.

Do I have to pay for care at home?

This will depend on your financial circumstances and the council's charging policy.  Some councils will have standard charges for some of their services, such as home help.

Social services will decide how much to charge after looking at how much money you have coming in and what savings you have. You do not have to reveal your financial circumstances to social services, but if you don't they may assume that you are able to pay any costs yourself.

Benefits

You may be entitled to claim benefits, which can be used to help pay for care at home.
This includes the following:

• if you are over the age of 65 and have difficulty managing on your own, you may be entitled to attendance allowance.
• if you are under the age of 65 and have difficulty managing on your own, you may be entitled to disability living allowance.
• If someone spends more than 35 hours a week looking after you, they might be entitled to carer's allowance.

If you have had your care needs assessed by social services, they should tell you about the benefits that you may be entitled to, and can also help you complete the benefit forms. You can find out more about other benefits that you might be entitled to from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), or by contacting your local Citizens Advice.

Housing benefit if a carer needs to stay overnight

If you rent your home, you may be able to get housing benefit to help pay for one extra bedroom if you or someone in your household needs overnight care and this is provided by someone outside your household, but you must have room in your property that is used by your carer.
If you need overnight care, but the housing benefit department of your council doesn’t give you the extra benefit, contact a local advice centre for help. Use our directory to find one.

Direct payments

If you need care at home, your council may be able to give you money so that you can choose and arrange your own care services. These are called direct payments.

To get direct payments, social services must have carried out an assessment of your needs and decided that you need help to stay in your own home. You must also be classed as a disabled person. Examples of those who qualify include people with a serious physical disability, people with visual impairments, deaf people and people with learning difficulties. You do not have to be registered as disabled.

If you get direct payments, you must spend the money on services to help meet your needs –  for example, a carer.

You can get more information about direct payments from the National Centre for Independent Living or speak to an adviser at a Shelter advice centre - use our advice services directory to find one.

Independent Living (1993) Fund

The Independent Living Fund (ILF) provides money to severely disabled people who need help to stay living in their own home. The money must be spent on employing a carer.

To get help from the ILF, you must be:

• aged between 16 and 66, and
• receiving the highest rate of disability living allowance care component, and
• receiving services from the local authority worth at least £340 per week, and
• have less than £23,000 in savings or capital.
  There are other conditions that have to be met.

Adaptations

If you need adaptations made to your home so that you can carry on living there, for example, a grab rail or a ramp, then you may be able to get a grant to help you with the cost of adaptations.

Help and advice

If you need help to arrange or pay for care, your local Shelter advice centre may be able to assist. Many of our local services have advisers specialising in disability and care needs, debt and welfare benefits as well as housing. Alternatively, a local Citizens Advice or other advice centre may be able to help you. Use our directory to find services in your area.

More information is available from: 

• DirectGov Community Care Assessments
• Age UK (formerly Age Concern and Help the Aged), who have useful information on community care options and voluntary agencies offering help and advice
• and if you have a child with a disability, you will find useful resources from Contact A Family.

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