How to Pay for Home Care – Understanding Your Funding Options
Care funding can feel complicated, but you have options. Whether through NHS Continuing Healthcare, council funding, Direct Payments or private payment, we'll help you understand what's available and support you through the application process across Market Harborough and Leicestershire.
Four Ways to Fund Home Care
One of the most common questions families ask is "How do we pay for care?" The answer isn't always straightforward because the UK has multiple funding routes depending on your circumstances, care needs, financial situation and health complexity.
Many people assume they'll have to pay privately for all care costs, but you may qualify for fully funded NHS care, partial council funding, or support through Direct Payments. Understanding what's available can save thousands of pounds and ensure you access the support you're entitled to.
Xcel Homes works with families funded through all routes – NHS Continuing Healthcare, Local Authority social services funding, Direct Payments and private self-funding. We help you navigate the system, support funding applications, and start care while applications are being processed.
The care you receive is identical regardless of how it's funded. NHS-funded clients, council-funded clients and privately paying clients all receive the same excellent, professional care from our experienced team.
Four Main Routes:
- 1.NHS Continuing Healthcare (fully funded)
- 2.Local Authority funding (means-tested)
- 3.Direct Payments (personal budget control)
- 4.Private self-funding
We Help With: Applications, assessments, understanding eligibility
Discuss Your Funding Options
NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)
NHS Continuing Healthcare is free care funded entirely by the NHS for people with complex, ongoing health needs. If you qualify for CHC, the NHS pays for all your care costs – whether at home or in a care home – with no means-testing or financial assessment required.
Who May Qualify
NHS CHC isn't based on specific diagnoses but on the nature, intensity, complexity and unpredictability of your care needs. You may qualify if you have:
Important: CHC is about health needs, not disability or age. Even relatively young people with complex conditions can qualify.
Assessment Process
Request a CHC Assessment
Ask your GP, hospital discharge team or social worker to refer you for NHS CHC assessment
Checklist Completed
Initial CHC screening checklist determines if full assessment warranted
Full Assessment
Multidisciplinary team assesses needs across 12 care domains (e.g., breathing, nutrition, mobility, cognition)
Decision Meeting
CCG panel reviews assessment and decides eligibility
Funding Approved or Declined
If approved, NHS funds your care fully; if declined, you can appeal
Fast-Track CHC: For people in final weeks of life, fast-track CHC can be approved within days, ensuring immediate fully funded care.
How Xcel Homes Helps
We support CHC applications by:
Local Authority (Council) Funding
Local Authority care funding is provided by your local council's adult social services department for people who meet eligibility criteria and have limited financial means. Unlike NHS CHC, council funding is means-tested – your income and savings are assessed to determine if you qualify.
Care Needs Assessment
Councils assess whether your care needs meet their eligibility threshold using national criteria. You may qualify if you need help with:
Financial Assessment (Means Test)
Even if your care needs qualify, you must pass a financial assessment:
Savings under £14,250
You likely won't pay toward care costs
Savings £14,250-£23,250
You may contribute partially
Savings over £23,250
You'll likely pay full costs yourself
Note: Your home isn't included if you still live in it. Figures are approximate and subject to change.
What Council Funding Covers
If you qualify, the council provides a personal budget to pay for assessed care needs:
The council determines the budget amount based on your assessed needs. You can choose to have the council arrange care or receive Direct Payments to organize care yourself.
How to Access Council Funding
Contact Adult Social Services
Call Leicestershire County Council or your local authority
Request a Care Needs Assessment
Social worker visits to assess needs
Financial Assessment
Complete financial questionnaire
Support Plan Created
If eligible, personal budget allocated
Care Arranged
Choose council-arranged care or Direct Payments
Direct Payments
Direct Payments allow you to receive your care budget as cash (paid into your bank account) rather than having the council arrange services for you. You then use this money to employ carers, purchase care from agencies like Xcel Homes, or organize your care in ways that suit you best.
Why Choose Direct Payments
Responsibilities
You become an employer (or use a managed account service), responsible for:
Many people use Direct Payment support services or payroll companies to handle the administrative burden.
Who Can Get Direct Payments
Direct Payments are available if:
Direct Payments can fund care from registered agencies (like Xcel Homes), individual personal assistants, equipment, or other support that meets your assessed needs.
How Xcel Homes Works with Direct Payments
We support people using Direct Payments by:
Private Self-Funding
Private self-funding means paying for care costs from your own income, savings or assets without NHS or council financial support. Many people self-fund care because their savings exceed council thresholds, they want to avoid means-testing, they need care urgently without waiting for assessments, or they simply prefer to arrange care privately.
Advantages
Considerations
Typical Private Care Costs:
Managing Private Care Costs
Xcel Homes Private Care
We provide transparent private care with:
Comparing Funding Options Side-by-Side
| Aspect | NHS CHC | Council Funding | Direct Payments | Private |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who Pays | NHS (fully) | Council (partial/full) | Council/NHS (you manage) | You |
| Means-Tested | No | Yes | Yes (if council-funded) | No |
| Eligibility | Complex health needs | Care needs + low assets | Eligible for council funding | Anyone |
| Application Process | CHC assessment | Social services assessment | After care assessment | None |
| Start Time | Can take weeks | Can take weeks | After assessment approved | Immediate |
| Choice of Provider | Your choice | Your choice | Your choice | Your choice |
| Flexibility | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very High |
| Financial Scrutiny | None | Full means test | If council-funded | None |
NHS CHC
Council Funding
Direct Payments
Private
Common Questions About Care Funding
How We Help with Funding Applications
Navigating care funding is complicated, and we help families through the process:
Funding Advice
Free guidance on which funding routes might suit your situation, realistic assessment of eligibility likelihood, explaining application processes clearly.
Assessment Support
Providing detailed care needs evidence for assessments, attending CHC or council assessment meetings with you, documenting care requirements comprehensively.
Application Assistance
Helping complete application paperwork, gathering supporting evidence, coordinating with healthcare professionals, tracking application progress.
Bridging Care
Starting care immediately whilst funding applications process, transparent private rates during interim period, seamless transition when funding approved.
We've supported hundreds of families through funding applications and understand what assessors look for. Many families tell us they wouldn't have successfully secured funding without our support and evidence.
Get Free Funding GuidanceCQC-Registered Care Provider for All Funding Routes
Xcel Homes Ltd is registered with the Care Quality Commission for personal care services, working with NHS-funded clients, council-funded clients and privately paying families. The care quality is identical regardless of funding source.
View Our CQC ReportNeed Help Understanding Care Funding?
Don't navigate the complex funding system alone. Our experienced team provides free, no-obligation advice about your funding options and supports you through applications.
Contact Us
01858 432043
Monday–Friday 8am–6pm, Saturday 9am–2pm
07824 531625
For urgent enquiries
info@xcelhomes.org
Xcel Homes Ltd
Kettering Road, Market Harborough
Leicestershire, LE16 8AN
