Understanding what funding options are available can be difficult when family members are given conflicting advice and information from clinicians, social workers, hospital and Local Authority staff.

We are here to support you to ensure your family member or relative receives the funding or benefits they are rightfully entitled to.  

You will find information on funding from a number of sources however this can be difficult to decipher. If you would find it more beneficial to speak with one of our advisers to see what funding options are relevant to your situation, we will “hold your hand” throughout the whole process. If we find that you are not eligible for help with funding straight away, don’t be put off – the eligibility for funding is based on the patient’s needs and as you know, these frequently change. Just because you were turned down for funding one month, this does not mean that you would not be eligible for it the following month, if the care needs change.

We will spend time understanding your case in depth to ensure we provide you with the most appropriate information relating to the funding options for your case. We can then fight to ensure your case is dealt with in the most appropriate way, keeping an eye on any changes in the patient’s needs to maximise your funding entitlement.

Types of funding:

• Self Funding
  This is when the patient pays for their own care because they have assets or capital which exceeds the local authority funding threshold. Currently the threshold in England is £23,250 so if the patient has assets or capital worth over this amount, they will be expected to fund their own care until they get down to this amount. (The threshold differs in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)
  
  
• Local Authority Funding
  This type of funding applies when the patient has assets/capital valued at less than £23,250 (In England). The council where the patient is resident will make contributions towards the cost of the patient’s care but the patient will still be required to make contributions from sources such as their pension.
  
  
• Local Authority Charging Order
  This applies when the patient has property that for whatever reason hasn’t been sold yet. The Local Authority can apply the debt against the property so when the property is then sold, the Council require repayment before the charging order can be lifted. Normally, the patient is still required to make some form of contribution towards the cost of their care even if there is a charging order in place.
  
  
• NHS Funded Nursing Care
  This is a payment from the NHS towards the cost of the patient’s care fees. Patient’s eligible for this payment will require some form of nursing care which has been recognised by the NHS. Normally this payment is made directly to the care home meaning the cost of the patient’s fees decreases in terms of how much they have to contribute. Currently the rate of FNC stands at £112 per week.
  
  
• Continuing Healthcare Funding
  This is when the NHS pay for the whole amount of the patient’s care fees. This type of funding is not means tested. It is based entirely on the patients’ healthcare needs and if they are at a standard where they require such a high level of medical intervention that it is deemed the NHS should be paying the bill for this care. In order to be eligible for this type of funding, the patient will require a Continuing Healthcare Assessment and will need to meet a specific criteria set by the NHS.