How to Fund Home Care in Staffordshire

Paying for home care is one of the first things families want to understand, and it is also one of the most confusing areas to navigate. This is our plain-English guide to the main funding routes available to people in Staffordshire.

Self-funding

If the person needing care has savings or assets above the threshold set by Staffordshire County Council (currently £23,250), they will generally be expected to pay for care themselves. Self-funding gives you the most choice: you can choose your provider, your care schedule, and the level of service without going through any council assessment process.

Many families find that self-funding gives them more control and faster access to the care they need. Rather than waiting weeks for a council assessment and then further weeks for a care package to be arranged, you can have care in place within 24 to 48 hours of an assessment with us.

Local authority funding

If the person needing care has limited savings and assets, Staffordshire County Council may contribute towards the cost. This requires two steps: a care needs assessment (carried out by the council, which looks at what level of support is needed) and a financial means test (which looks at savings, income and property to determine what the person can afford to contribute).

If the council agrees to fund care, they will usually offer a personal budget, which can be used to pay for a care provider of your choice, or managed directly by the council who will arrange a provider on your behalf. The council’s funding rate is often lower than private rates, which means there may be a top-up required.

To start this process, contact Staffordshire County Council’s adult social care team. Be aware that waiting times for assessments can be several weeks.

NHS Continuing Healthcare

For people with complex, primarily health-related needs, NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is a fully-funded care package paid for by the NHS rather than social services. The threshold is high: CHC is intended for people whose primary need is a health need, not a social care need.

Assessment for CHC involves a two-stage process and is carried out by a multidisciplinary team. If eligible, the full cost of care is covered regardless of savings or assets.

If you think CHC might be relevant to your situation, ask the person’s GP or hospital team to refer for a CHC checklist assessment. You can also raise this directly with Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board.

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care due to illness or disability. It is not means-tested and does not depend on savings or income. There are two rates depending on the level of need. Attendance Allowance is paid directly to the person and can be used towards the cost of care.

Many families who are eligible for Attendance Allowance have not claimed it. It is worth checking.

A practical note

Care funding is genuinely complicated and the right route depends on the individual’s full financial and health picture. We are not financial advisors and we always recommend speaking to an independent financial adviser who specialises in care funding if you are making significant decisions.

What we can do is talk through the options with you honestly, help you understand what is likely to apply in your situation, and make sure you are not making decisions based on incomplete information. Call us on 01782 528087.