The rules on your home matter most. It does not count if a partner, a relative over 60 or disabled, or a child you support still lives there.
Quick facts
- Pay all your care
- Capital over £23,250
- Pay part
- £14,250 to £23,250
- Capital ignored
- £14,250 or under
- You keep
- £34.10 a week
- Nursing payment
- £100 a week from the Trust
- Your home counts
- After 12 weeks, unless someone listed lives there
How the assessment works
You have a needs assessment first, then a financial assessment before you move in. The Trust looks at your income, such as pensions, Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance, and your capital, such as savings, investments and property.
Claim every benefit you are owed before the assessment, because your contribution is based on all income, benefits included.
The capital limits
- Over £23,250: you are assessed as able to pay for all your care
- Between £14,250 and £23,250: every £250 counts as £1 a week of income
- £14,250 or under: your capital is ignored
Whatever you pay, you must be left £34.10 a week, the Personal Expenses Allowance. Over 65, you can also keep up to £5.75 a week of savings credit, and the mobility part of DLA carries on.
When your home counts
If you own your home, it counts as capital 12 weeks after you move into a care home permanently. It does not count if any of these people still live there:
- your husband, wife, civil partner or partner
- a close relative aged 60 or over, or disabled
- a child under 16 you are legally liable to support
- an ex-partner who is a lone parent
The Trust can also choose not to count it in other cases, for example if your carer lives there. On a temporary stay, your home is not counted.
Giving your home away
It is against the law to transfer an asset to someone specifically to avoid care home fees. The Trust can treat you as still owning it and recover the cost from you or the person who received it. Get a solicitor's advice before setting up a trust.
Nursing care and choosing a home
If you live in a nursing home and have assessed nursing needs, the Trust pays £100 a week towards the nursing. If you want a dearer home than the Trust offers, a relative or friend can pay the difference, called a third party contribution.
Common questions
What is the capital limit for care home fees in Northern Ireland?
£23,250. Above that, including your home, you pay the full cost. Below £14,250 your capital is ignored.
Will I have to sell my house to pay for a care home in Northern Ireland?
Your home counts as capital 12 weeks after a permanent move, unless a partner, an older or disabled relative, or a dependent child still lives there.
How much money do I keep in a care home in Northern Ireland?
At least £34.10 a week, the Personal Expenses Allowance.
Does the Trust pay for nursing care?
Yes, £100 a week towards the cost of nursing if you have assessed nursing needs.