Care Home Fee Calculator
How it works
The calculator estimates fees by region and care type (residential vs nursing vs dementia/EMI), applies any NHS Funded Nursing Care contribution (£235.88/week in nursing homes), then projects how long savings will last at the net rate. It flags whether means-tested help will kick in and at what point.
Worked example
£200,000 in savings, nursing home at £1,500/week (net £1,264 after FNC) = ~£65,700/year. Savings last about 3 years before dropping to £23,250 and triggering local authority means-test.
Who should use this
- •Families planning care for a parent
- •Self-funders projecting how long savings will last
- •Anyone considering equity release or annuity to fund care
- •Couples planning around the home disregard
Common mistakes
- ×Assuming the council always pays — only if assets are below the threshold
- ×Ignoring NHS Continuing Healthcare — fully funds care for a 'primary health need'
- ×Selling the home unnecessarily — disregarded if a spouse still lives there
- ×Forgetting Attendance Allowance (£110.40/week) — payable in care homes if self-funding
Frequently asked questions
What is the home disregard?▾
Your home is excluded from the means-test if a spouse, dependent under-18, or relative over 60 still lives there.
Can I gift assets to qualify?▾
No — councils can apply 'deliberate deprivation' rules retroactively, often unlimited in time.
What's a deferred payment agreement?▾
Council pays your fees and reclaims them from your estate when you sell — useful to avoid forced sale.