IS20 - A guide to Income Support

Help if you live in a care home

Community care rules

Under the rules, which were introduced on 1 April 1993, if you need financial help to enter a care home you should contact your local council’s Social Services Department (Social Work Department in Scotland). You should also contact them if you need support to be able to continue to live at home.

The Social Services Department (Social Work Department in Scotland) will first look at the kind of help you need. They may advise that you should go into a care home. If they do, they will also help you choose a home that best suits your needs.

Paying the fees in a care home

The Social Services Department (Social Work Department in Scotland) will normally arrange to pay the home’s fees, but sometimes a different arrangement for paying the fees can be made if you, the home and the Social Services Department agree.

The Social Services Department (Social Work Department in Scotland) will look at how much money you have coming in, including social security benefits, and how much capital you have. The Social Services Department (Social Work Department in Scotland) will work out how much you can afford to contribute towards the cost. You will be left with a weekly personal expenses allowance. For current rates, get leaflet Social security benefit rates from your Jobcentre Plus office or social security office.

Social security benefits

You will be able to claim normal Income Support, plus any premiums that are appropriate, almost as if you were living in your own home.

Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance

If you go into a care home, under arrangements made by the Social Services Department, (Social Work Department in Scotland) Attendance Allowance (AA) or the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) may stop after 4 weeks.

If the Social Services Department (Social Work Department in Scotland) has asked you to contribute to the cost of your care, they will recalculate the amount of your contribution so you will not be worse off.

In England and Wales, where the arrangements do not include a financial arrangement made by a local authority you can continue to receive AA or the care component of DLA even if you are still receiving Income Support. The mobility component of DLA is not affected if you move into a care home. It might be affected if the arrangements were made by the NHS.

If it is established that the care home is owned, managed or funded by a Health Authority for AA and DLA purposes the accommodation may considered to be a "Similar institution to a hospital", in which case payment of DLA or AA will be affected.

This also applies to Scottish homes.

Short periods spent in a care home

If you and the Social Services Department (Social Work Department in Scotland) and your relatives agree that you, or anyone that cares for you, would be helped by a short period in a care home the Social Services Department (Social Work Department in Scotland) will arrange it.

You will still be able to claim Income Support but the capital limits are different to those which apply to permanent residents (see ‘General guidelines’). If you have a partner and you are going into a care home for a short period, your income and capital will be assessed together.

The Social Services Department (Social Work Department in Scotland) will ensure that you are left with a personal expenses allowance.

You may also be able to get help with the cost of your own home, such as Housing Benefit, to help with the rent or mortgage interest payments as part of Income Support.

If you are getting AA or DLA (care component) before you go into a care home, it can continue for up to 4 weeks. This may not apply if you have recently spent some time in one of these homes or in a hospital.

If you are receiving temporary residential care the Social Services Department (Social Work Department in Scotland) will ignore AA or DLA (care component) when working out how much you pay towards the cost.

Getting in touch with the Social Services Department

If you are already in contact with the Social Services Department (Social Work Department in Scotland) ask the person you normally deal with, for example, a social worker, if you want any information.

If you are in contact with someone from the NHS, like your GP or a district nurse, they should be able to help you get in touch with the right person in the Social Services Department (Social Work Department in Scotland).

The address of your local Social Services Department (Social Work Department in Scotland) should be listed in the telephone directory, under the name of your County Council, Borough Council, or in some areas, new Unitary Authority, London Borough, or Regional or Island Council (Scotland).

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