Self-funders' guide for adult social care

The 12-week property disregard is set up to protect people during times of crisis. This is particularly important when they need care.

It means that we disregard the value of a person's home for the first 12 weeks.

It recognises the importance of stability and choice during challenging times. It gives people breathing space to focus on care needs without the immediate burden of home-related costs. This could help to prevent hasty decisions related to selling their home.

Circumstances when it would be applied:

1. Entering a care home
   
   When someone first becomes a permanent resident in a care home, we would temporarily ignore the value of their main or only home.
    
2. Unexpected changes
   
   Sometimes, a different property disregard may end unexpectedly. For example, if a qualifying relative passes away or moves into a care home.
   
   In such cases, we would continue to apply the 12-week disregard to provide stability.
    
3. Discretionary application
   
   We can also apply the 12-week property disregard when there is a sudden and unforeseen change in the person’s financial situation.
   
   Factors like a drop in share prices or unexpected debts might be taken into consideration.

Help towards social care

As a self-funder you could still be eligible for some free services: 

• information and advice relating to
  • local care and support services which could help you plan how to meet your needs 
  • funding your care 
• minor adaptations and small items of equipment  
• support with choosing the kind of support you need 
• A needs assessment to identify your care and support needs

Help towards care costs from the NHS 

NHS continuing healthcare may be available if you are over 18 years of age and have had an assessment identifying a primary health need. This may have arisen as the result of a disability, accident, or illness.

NHS-funded nursing care may be available if you live in a nursing home. This must be due to having high-level needs which requires 24/7 care from a registered nurse. This funding goes straight to your nursing home to reimburse them for the nursing care they provide to you.

 

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is extra money to help with your care needs if you've reached pension age. It can help you stay independent in your own home for longer.

It's a welfare benefit that lots of people are entitled to but often don't know enough about it to claim.

You need to have had an illness or disability, for at least the last 6 months, which makes it difficult for you to look after yourself.

It's not means tested so your earnings or savings will not affect what you get.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you have both:

• a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
• difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition

You can get PIP even if you’re working, have savings or are getting most other benefits. It's tax-free and is not affected by your income or savings. 

Pension Credit

If you’re over State Pension age and on a low income, you may be eligible for Pension Credit. If you get Pension Credit, you can also get other help such as:

• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Support

Check benefits and financial support you can get

Find out what support you might be able to get to help with your living costs. You can get benefits and other financial support if you’re eligible.

Start now

If you have complex care and support needs which cannot be met at home, you may need to think about moving to a care home. If you find yourself in this situation, you could use our tool to first consider alternatives.

After you've moved into a care home you may find that in the future you will need help to fund your fees. This may happen if your capital reduces below the upper capital limit of £23,250.

When choosing a care home, it is worth checking if they would contract with the local authority. This could be important if your capital drops below the upper capital limit and you become eligible for financial support from us. If the care home won't accept the rate we will pay to meet your needs, you may have to:

• arrange for a third-party to pay the difference between what the council would pay and the fee the care home charges. This could be a family member, friend or charity 
• move to another care home

A Deferred Payment Agreement (DPA) is a loan using your home as security.

A DPA may be an option for you if:

• you are a self-funder
• you own your own home
• your other capital drops below the upper capital limit

Read more about Deferred Payment Agreements (DPA)

As a self-funder you may become eligible for financial support in the future. You may need help towards your care and support costs if your capital reduces to the upper capital limit of £23,250. How much financial help you get depends on the outcome of: 

1. A care needs assessment to identify your care and support needs and the cost of meeting them.
2. A financial assessment to work out the most you could afford to pay each week towards your care and support.

Contact us around three months before you think your savings will drop to below the upper capital limit. We can then organise the necessary assessments.

If, whilst you've been self-funding you moved to a care home outside of the Dorset Council area, contact the local council for the area you are living in.

We look at assets even if you no longer own them

You can give away your assets, such as money or property, if you wish to. However, if you do this at a time when you could foresee the need for care in the future, we could still include the value of any gifts in the financial assessment.

You could be assessed as being able to meet the full cost of your care, even though you no longer have the assets. This is called deprivation of assets.

To be safe, we would advise you to:

• read an introduction to the rules on giving assets away (Which?)
• get more information on the rules on giving assets away (Age UK)
• get legal advice if you are thinking of giving away assets (Solicitors for the Elderly) 

This information is available in easy read format.