Paying for live-in care: costs and funding routes

Clinical practice · October 2026 · 3 minute read

Live-in care is a significant commitment, and how it is paid for depends on the person's health needs, their savings and income, and where they live. This guide sets out the main routes in England.

What affects the cost

Every placement is priced differently. The main factors are:

• the level of need, including dementia care or complex health needs;
• nights, and whether waking night support or a second carer is needed;
• whether it's one person or a couple;
• how cover is arranged for carer breaks and holidays;
• the level of clinical oversight included.

Ask every provider for a written, itemised quote, and check what is included. Clinical oversight, cover for breaks and carer travel can all make a difference to the true cost.

NHS Continuing Healthcare

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is a package of care arranged and funded by the NHS for people whose needs are mainly health needs. It is not means-tested. If someone is eligible, the NHS funds their care in full, and that can include live-in care at home.

Eligibility is decided by an assessment, usually starting with a checklist completed by a health or social care professional. If you think someone may qualify, ask their GP, hospital team or social worker for a CHC assessment.

Local authority funding

If someone has care needs, the local authority must assess them on request. If they have eligible needs, a financial assessment follows.

• Savings limits: in England, people with more than £23,250 in capital generally pay for their own care. Below £14,250, capital is ignored. Between the two, the person contributes from their capital.
• The home isn't counted: when care is provided at home rather than in a care home, the value of the person's main home is disregarded in the financial assessment.
• How it is paid: the local authority can arrange the care itself, or give the person a direct payment to arrange their own care with a provider they choose.

Local authority funding usually depends on the local authority's assessment of need and the budget it sets, so live-in care is not always fully funded this way. A provider can talk you through how others have combined funding sources.

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care because of an illness or disability. It isn't means-tested, and it can be spent on care. For 2026/27 it is £76.70 a week at the lower rate and £114.60 a week at the higher rate.

Paying privately

Many families pay privately, using savings, income or pensions. Because the home is not sold to fund a care home place, some choose equity release or other ways to fund care at home. If you're considering this, take independent financial advice first.

How Eviqa can help

Eviqa Complex Care provides clinically led live-in care, and we work with families, case managers, social workers and NHS teams on funding. We'll give you a clear, written quote, explain what's included and help you understand the options open to you.

Sources

• NHS: NHS Continuing Healthcare (opens in a new tab)
• legislation.gov.uk: Care and Support (Charging and Assessment of Resources) Regulations 2014, Schedule 2 (opens in a new tab)
• GOV.UK: Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027 (opens in a new tab)
• GOV.UK: Attendance Allowance (opens in a new tab)

Live-in care