Self-funding and funding eligibility

If you have capital (excluding your main or only home) over £23,250, you'll be responsible for paying for care, including funding all of your care and support costs.

We can give you an idea of when funding should become available if:

• you've been self-funding in a care home
• you don’t own a property, and
• your savings are reducing to £23,250

Example funding scenario

Joe Smith has been self-funding in residential care for nearly 3 years. His capital is now approaching the higher capital limit. His son, who has Lasting Power of Attorney, provides his father’s financial information to the council. Joe pays his care fees on the last day of each month, in arrears. It's estimated that Joe will be eligible for council funding soon; this will be confirmed by checking the capital due to be held at that time.

This calculation shows the time required for Joe's capital to fall below the 'upper limit' (using example dates).

Capital assets

£26,308.64 - £23,250.00 (upper limit) =  £3,058.64 (amount above upper limit, as of 25 February)

Weekly income

• cost of care whilst self-funding = £900.00 per week
• amount of savings reduced by each week = £622.44
• £3058.64 (amount above upper limit) ÷ £622.44 (weekly savings reduction) = 4.91 weeks (time required to reduce capital total to less than 'upper limit'), rounded to 35 days
• date eligible for funding = 2 April 2023

Also see:

• Residential care
• Assessing your needs
• Managing your finances