Income Support and long-term care

Income Support and long-term care

Income Support and long-term care are two different benefits, designed to support people in different ways. 

The Income Support personal impairment component and long-term care benefit both help with the cost of care. However, you cannot receive both at the same time. If you qualify for both, you need to choose which one is best for you.

If you share a home with someone who is receiving​ Long-Term Care and Income Support​

​Households who get income support will be eligible for an extra component, the Ancillary Care Costs component. The household will receive this is if a member is receiving care at home and has joined the Long-Term Care Scheme. 

This extra component acknowledges that households will have extras costs if they share a home with someone who needs Long-Term Care.

If more than one person in the household joins the long-term care scheme, you will get multiple Ancillary Home Care Cost components. 

If a young person joins the long-term care scheme and carries on living in the family home, they will get their own Income Support claim and their own Ancillary Home Care Costs component.

If you're living at home ​

If you're living at home and receive long-term care benefit, you will not be able to apply for Income Support impairment component. However, you may still apply for Income Support benefit towards other expenses.

If you already have the Income Support impairment component, this will stop. Income Support will continue to help with your living expenses.

If you're living in a care home

You will no longer receive Income Support and your care costs will be covered by long-term care benefit directly.