​How the Long-Term Care Scheme works

​The Long-Term Care Scheme helps you pay for everyday care or support.

​Everyday care and support includes help with things like bathing, dressing or eating. ​​

​Tax payers pay money to the Government, and we can use some of this money to help people when they need care or support.​

​As soon as you need care, you should join the Long-Term Care Scheme.

​You might need everyday care in your own home, or a care home. ​

​Who can apply?​

​To apply for the Long-Term Care Scheme you need to be an adult over the age of 18.

​Paying for your care or support​

​If you want help to pay for your long-term care or support, you need to have a health assessment.​

​A health assessment is where you meet with a health and social care professional to work out what level of care or support you need. ​

​Standard levels of care or support 

​A standard level of care or support is the amount of care that we think you need.

​The amount that your care costs will depend on how much care or support you need. ​​

​​There are 4 standard levels of care:

Level 1: weekly care costs up to £492.03

Level 2: weekly care costs up to​ £750.54

​Level 3: weekly care costs up to £1084.93

Level 4: weekly care costs up to​​ £1363.95

​If you want more care or support 

​Some people will choose care or support that costs more than the Government can give them. ​

​We will only pay up to the standard level of care or support that you need. ​

​You have to pay with your own money if you want more than the standard level of care or support. ​​

​If the provider of the care charges more, you will have to pay for the extra with your own money. ​

​Paying towards the cost of your care or support​

​You have to pay towards the cost of your care or support if you have enough income. ​

​Your income is money you have coming in. It may be from:

• a job
• a pension (money saved up to live on after you stop working)
• benefits (money given to you by the government)
  

​Your financial assessment​

​After your health assessment, we will work out how much you can afford to pay towards the cost of your care or support from your money. ​

​The financial assessment will check that you still have enough money left for: 

​If you do not have much money, you might not have to pay anything towards the cost of your care or support. 

​Telling us how much money you have​

​If you have less than £419,000 and you want us to pay for the cost of your care or support, you will have to show us how much money you have.

​What counts towards the £419,000?​

​We will pay towards the cost of your care or support if you have less than £419,000.​

​If you think you have less than £419,000 we will want to look at how much money you have. ​

​What is included?​

​​​When we look at how much money you have, we will look at: ​

We will also look at other things you have that are worth a lot of money. 

​These things are not included: 

• your personal clothes and jewellery
  
• your furniture
  

​If you have given away money in the last 10 years, this might still count towards the £419,000.

​If you have given away buildings at any time, these might still count towards the £419,000. ​

​The cost of your care or support at home​

​If you need care or support at home, you need to agree with the cost of that care.

We only pay up to the standard level of care or support that you need. 

If you need to pay more, you will have to pay for the extra with your own money. 

​The cost of your care or support in a care home

​Some care homes charge more than the standard level of care or support. 

We only pay up to the standard level of care or support that you need. 

You have to pay the extra with your own money. 

​Other costs

​In a care home there are other costs. You will have to pay for your room and food. 

Talk to the care home about what it will cost for them to care for you. 

​Care homes charge for things like: 

• soaps and shampoos
• magazines
• hairdressing

You need to find out if we will pay for these, or if you have to pay.

​Help from a benefit

​If you live at home, you might be able to get help from a benefit called Income Support​. ​

For more information:

​What happens next

​Once you have had an assessment with a healthcare professional, you need to apply for the Long-Term Care Scheme. ​

Contact the Single Point of Referral team to ask for an assessment:

​Find out more

​If you have any questions about the scheme you can contact us.