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Understanding NHS Continuing Healthcare and Social Care Funding

It can feel very overwhelming when a loved one needs ongoing care. It’s not just about the appointments or daily self-care routines that need organising. It’s the worry and the fear that you might make the wrong decision. Maybe there’s also the pressure of needing to act quickly. The funding side of organising care can feel like another mountain to climb. It’s normal to feel unsure and not know where to start.

We want to help you make sense of healthcare and social care funding in the UK. In the UK, there are different ways care can be funded, such as NHS support, local authority help, self-funding, or sometimes a combination of all three. The terms can sound confusing, and if you’re not clear, it’s easy to end up paying more than you should. So, here we will walk you through what’s available and what it means for your loved one.

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)

NHS Continuing Healthcare, or CHC, is full funding from the NHS for someone who needs ongoing care. It covers both health and personal care, whether at home, in a care home, or another suitable place.

One thing that surprises people is that CHC isn’t means tested and so isn’t based on the amount of money someone has. Income, savings, or property don’t matter. What matters is their care needs and whether they’re mainly health-related. Many families worry they won’t qualify because they have savings, but with CHC, that’s not the case.

How CHC eligibility is decided

The NHS looks at day-to-day needs and not just the diagnosis. They look at how complex the care is, how intense it is, how unpredictable it might be, and what risks there are in not having the proper support. There’s also a fast-track process if someone’s condition is declining quickly or if they are approaching the end of life, so care can start quickly.

Also, CHC funding isn’t set in stone. It’s reviewed regularly, because if needs change, then the funding may need to change too.

NHS Funded Nursing Care

Sometimes someone doesn’t qualify for full CHC but still needs nursing care in a care home. In that case, NHS funded nursing care might cover the nursing part. It doesn’t pay for accommodation or personal care, but it can help bring down the overall cost. Many families miss this funding simply because they haven’t been told it exists.

Local Authority Social Care Funding

If needs aren’t mainly health-related, local authorities usually provide the required support. This type of funding looks at income, savings, and sometimes property. If someone has savings above a certain threshold, it may mean they will be expected to pay for their care themselves. If they are below that threshold, the local authority may contribute partially or fully, depending on what’s needed.

Even if someone is paying privately, they still have the right to a care needs assessment. That assessment can open doors to more funding options that might otherwise be missed.

Self-Funding and Private Care

Some families choose to fund care themselves, or sometimes government funding isn’t available. The costs vary depending on where you live, the type of care, as well as the level of support needed.

Just because care starts privately doesn’t mean government funding is off the table forever. As needs change, eligibility can change. It’s worth checking regularly to make sure nothing is being missed.

Joint and Blended Funding

In practice, funding isn’t always one or the other. Sometimes the NHS covers health-related needs while the local authority covers social care. These blended arrangements need a bit of coordination plus regular reviews to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

Common Challenges Families Face

A lot of people assume they won’t qualify for NHS funding and so never ask. Others get informal advice and accept it without checking properly. Some start paying privately and later discover NHS funding could have helped. These situations are stressful, but they can usually be avoided with the right guidance at the right time.

How Eximius Support Can Help

Our role is to sit with you, listen, and explain your options to you and make sure you fully understand. We guide you through NHS CHC, local authority support, blended funding, assessments, and reviews. We want to make sure funding reflects real care needs and that families aren’t paying more than they should.

Next Steps

Getting clarity as early soon as possible gives you more choice and more control. If you’re facing an immediate care need, or you just want to plan ahead, it becomes less daunting once you understand the options. We can help you to navigate this, so funding doesn’t add more stress on top of everything else. Get in touch today for practical advice and personalised support.