Paying for a Care Home (England) 2026/27: Plain English Family Workbook

• For families in England planning or paying for a care home.

What you get

• Who might pay: NHS funding, the council, or you
• 2026/27 limits explained: £23,250, £14,250 and the £31.80 Personal Expenses Allowance
• A means test worksheet and a 'when will savings run low' calculator
• What happens to the home: 12-week disregard and deferred payments
• Care home visit checklist and contract questions
• 29 large-print pages to print, plus an editable Word version

Why buy it if help is free?

Council care assessments and advice are free. The workbook puts the rules, sums and questions in one place in plain English. You can work through it at your own pace.

Free help

Care needs assessments are free.

• NHS guide to paying for your own care: https://www.nhs.uk/social-care-and-support/money-work-and-benefits/paying-for-your-own-care-self-funding/
• NHS social care guide: https://www.nhs.uk/social-care-and-support/
• Age UK: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/
• Citizens Advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/