“Will the council pay for home care?” is the most common question our phone picks up after 10am. The honest answer is: sometimes yes, partially, in some cases no — and the difference usually comes down to one form that needs filling in. Here is how local authority funding for home care actually works in England, in plain English.
Who can ask
Anyone in England aged 18 or over who needs care — regardless of income, savings, or property. The council has a legal duty under the Care Act 2014 to carry out a care needs assessment if they think you may have needs that meet the threshold. The assessment is free. You do not need to know the answer to the money question before asking.
The needs test comes first, the money test second
There are two separate assessments. The first looks at your needs: can you eat safely, wash, get dressed, get out of the house, manage your medication? If the needs meet the threshold, the council must help with the eligible needs — this part is not about money.
The second, the financial assessment (the “means test”), decides how much of that help the council will fund. This is where the two famous numbers come in.
The two numbers that decide everything
For 2026/27, the capital limits in England remain at the same level as the previous year, per the government’s social care charging circular:
- Upper capital limit: £23,250. If you have savings, investments, and other assessable assets above this, you are a self-funder for the time being, and the council has no obligation to pay.
- Lower capital limit: £14,250. If you have less than this, your capital is not counted, and you only contribute from income (keeping a personal allowance).
- In between: you keep most of your income, and the council calculates a notional “tariff income” of £1 per week for every £250 (or part thereof) of capital above £14,250.
Two important notes. First, your home is normally not counted if a spouse, partner, or dependent relative still lives there. Second, and this is the bit people miss: for care in your own home, local authorities have discretion to set a higher capital limit than for a care home. Warwickshire and its neighbouring councils can and do set different charging policies, so always ask which policy applies to your postcode.
What council funding typically covers
The council funds eligible needs — the hours and the type of care in your plan. It does not pay for “nice to have” extras like entertainment outings or extra housekeeping; those would need a personal top-up or to be dropped from the plan. Most families split the difference: the council covers the core care, and the family tops up for the extra hours that keep life comfortable.
How we work with council-funded care
We accept contracts from local authorities across Warwickshire and Leicestershire, including Coventry, Rugby and Nuneaton. What this means in practice: the council signs the contract with us, we deliver the care, and you only pay the contribution they calculate. You do not need to chase invoices or set up direct debits with us. We will also help you write the needs assessment so that the care plan reflects what the person actually needs — because a well-written assessment is the difference between three visits a week and five. (We cover the assessment itself in a separate guide, and we will send it to you at your consultation.)
The first three steps
- Call your council’s social care team and ask for a care needs assessment. You do not need a referral.
- Write down a “before” list — the specific things that are difficult, with examples and dates. “Mum has dropped a full glass of water three times this week” is more useful than “she’s struggling.”
- Ask us to attend with you — we can attend the assessment, make sure the plan is realistic, and explain any terminology. This is included, free of charge, in the free consultation.
For a full picture of costs — including what home care costs when you are paying privately — see our home care cost guide.
