Paying for my Homecare

Eligibility Information

Care and support is not a free service like the NHS, and most people will pay at least something towards the cost of their social care support. The cost of homecare can depend on the area you live in. The average cost is around £15 per hour. 

If you have over £23,250 in savings - you are classed as self funding & will need to contact the homecare service directly or Nottingham City Council can offer help and support with this. For additional help finding a suitable homecare please visit Home Care Association Website or ASKLiON Home Care Listings

If you have under £23,250 in savings - what you pay will depend on your personal financial circumstances such as: income, benefits, savings and any property you own. Nottingham City Council will carry out a financial assessment to decide what someone can afford to pay.

Make sure you’re claiming all the benefits you’re entitled to.

• Attendance Allowance - is a benefit for people over the State Pension age who need extra help to stay independent at home due to an illness or disability.
• If you’re under the State Pension age - you may be eligible for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) instead
• If you have a carer - they could be eligible for Carer’s Allowance.

Note - These benefits aren’t means-tested, so don't take into account your income and savings.

Two assessments must be carried out:

The first determines what your care needs are and these are done by Health professional and Occupational therapists - More information see our Social Care Needs Assessment pages.

The second looks at your financial circumstances, to determine how much you will have to contribute to any care you receive. You can start this step now with the easy-to-use Online Financial Assessment Tool.

If you choose not to have a financial assessment, the council will assume that you can pay for all of the costs yourself. 

For more details and to print information of paying for care and support, you can download our fact sheet below

• Accessing Social Care Services Factsheet

After we assess your care needs, we will create a care plan to help you. This plan will include a weekly budget for the support you need, called your personal budget. 

Personal Budgets

You can ask the council to either:

• Manage your personal budget for you if you are not confident about keeping records or managing the people who care for you
• Pay the money to another organisation – such as a care provider
• Pay the money directly to you or someone you choose – this is known as a direct payment

You can also choose a combination of these options. For example, the council could arrange some of your care but send you the rest of the money. This is often called a mixed package or "mix and match".

If the council manages your money

The money in your personal budget will be spent for you by the council. We will arrange all your care and support based on your agreed care plan and check you're happy with the care.

If your money is paid to another organisation

The organisation you choose, such as your care provider, will speak to the council and arrange the payments.

Sometimes other organisations charge you extra money to arrange payments from the council.

Direct Payments

Direct payments give you more flexibility over how your care and support is arranged and provided. For example, you could choose to hire care workers or personal assistants who:

• Are always the same people and available when you need them
• Speak the same language as you
• Have experience working with your care needs
• Are a specific person that has been recommended to you
• Can help you get to shops or social events

For further information visit the NHS personal budgets and direct payments website

Please see the documents below to learn more about how Direct Payments work in practice at Nottingham City Council.

• Direct Payments Factshee
• Nottingham City Direct Payment Accounts Fact Sheet for Citizens
• Direct Payments Guide for Citizens
• Nottingham City Council Direct Payment Accounts FAQs

To find a home care agency:

• The UK Home Care Association can give you details of home care providers that follow its code of practice. Visit: Home Care Association Website
• The ASKLiON directory can give you details of home care providers. Visit: ASKLiON Home Care Listings
• Nottingham Health & Care Point should be able to provide you with details of approved private agencies. Visit: Adult Social Care Hub Tel: 0115 8763330
• Friends and family - Ask friends or relatives for recommendations.

Nottingham Health & Care Point

If you need advice on where to get help and support, including what's available on care, disability, stroke, nursing services, community services, speech and others. Then by Calling the Health and Care Point, you will speak to someone trained in health and social care. In that case, they will understand the call and know where to get help if they can't resolve it themselves.

• Call: 0115 8763330, Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm or 
• Visit: Adult Social Care Hub

You can find out more with our handy Council Commissioned and Contracted Services Factsheet.