Having long-term care needs means that you need substantial help with daily activities such as getting out of bed and dressing.
The Long-Term Care (LTC) scheme provides financial support to Jersey residents who are likely to need long-term care for the rest of their life, either in their own home or in a care home.
Short introduction to long-term care
Long-term care diagram
General long-term care information booklet
How the long-term care (LTC) scheme works
If you need long-term care, you'll be able to claim the LTC benefit once your assessed care costs have reached a cap of £56,130 for a single person or £84,195 for a couple.
If you move into a care home, you will be responsible for paying the home's non-care costs (accommodation and day-to-day living expenses). This contribution is referred to as the co-payment.
If you receive care in your own home, you will not need to pay a co-payment, as you will already be meeting your day to day living costs.
If you can't afford your share of the care or non-care costs, you will be able to apply for extra help through means testing or an LTC property loan.
Reducing the financial worries of long-term care
The scheme aims to remove much of the financial worry that you would otherwise have about the cost of long-term care.
How the scheme is being paid for
A separate LTC fund has been set up specifically to pay for long-term care.
In 2014, all the funding for the scheme was coming from the States transferring money into the LTC fund. The States will continue to pay money into the fund every year.
From 1 January 2015, a new LTC contribution rate of 0.5% was collected from Jersey residents who had an income high enough to pay income tax.
From January 2016, the contribution rate for individuals was set at 1% with the intention of holding that rate for at least the following three years.
The long-term care scheme has been designed to be sustainable in the long term, but it will require the LTC contribution rate to rise over the next 30 years to a rate of just under 3% by 2044.
Long-term care scheme: contributions
More information on the long-term care scheme
If you have any comments or questions on the scheme, email us.
gov.je