Care & Will Planning2 min check

Reclaim Care Fees Checker

Check whether past care fees might be reclaimable via a retrospective NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) review.

Short answer

If you self-funded care from 1 April 2012 onwards and the person had significant nursing/health needs, you may be able to reclaim fees retrospectively through a Previously Unassessed Period (PUP) review. NHS England closed pre-2012 claims. Successful claims refund all care fees plus 8% statutory interest. Process takes 12–24 months and can recover £50,000–£300,000+.

Step 1 of 10%

Calculation method, coverage and version

Inputs used: Total fees paid (estimate), Care started, Did the person have complex / unstable / unpredictable needs?, Was a CHC assessment ever done?.
Calculation approach: The calculator applies the rules and assumptions described in “How it works” to the values you enter. Rounding can cause small differences from an official or provider calculation.
Coverage: Care & Will Planning. UK nations, tax treatment, local rules and provider criteria can differ; check the official sources shown below before acting.
Content version: No page-specific review date is currently published. Treat the result as indicative and verify current rules independently.

Not included unless explicitly requested: personal circumstances not entered, provider discretion, future rule changes, professional fees and case-specific exceptions. Read the full calculator methodology.

Primary sources and official verification

Use these official sources to verify current rules before acting. Coverage and dates can differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

NHS continuing healthcare guidance — NHS

See the sitewide source policy.

How it works

You request a PUP review from the local Integrated Care Board (ICB). The ICB gathers GP, hospital and care home records, completes a retrospective Decision Support Tool, and decides eligibility. If refused, you can escalate to an Independent Review Panel and ultimately to the Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman.

Worked example

Mother in nursing care 2018–2022 with vascular dementia, falls and complex medication — paid £85,000 in fees. Successful retrospective CHC claim recovers £85,000 + ~£15,000 interest = £100,000.

Who should use this

•Families of someone who died in nursing care since 2012
•Self-funders still in care with significant health needs
•Anyone refused CHC at the time who didn't appeal
•Estates with care home invoices on record

Common mistakes

×Using a no-win-no-fee firm taking 25–35% (free help available from Beacon CHC)
×Missing the deadline to request review (no fixed limit but ICBs resist old cases)
×Not gathering medical records early (some are destroyed after 8 years)
×Accepting first refusal — appeal success rates are 30–50%

Frequently asked questions

Can I claim for someone who has died?▾

Yes — the executor or next of kin can claim on behalf of the estate.

What records do I need?▾

GP records, hospital discharge summaries, care home daily notes, medication lists, and any social services assessments.

Is it worth using a solicitor?▾

Free help (Beacon) handles most cases. Use a solicitor only for complex appeals or large estates.

Related calculators

NHS Continuing Healthcare Checker →Care Home Fees Calculator →Care Funding Options →Means Test Calculator →