Care Funding in Wales | Check Eligibility For Funding Support

Whether you pay for your own care in Wales is determined by a financial assessment, which works out the total value of your savings (and assets if care in a care home is needed). This article explains care funding in Wales, including whether you or your local council will pay for care, both in a care home and through home care. You could also be eligible for NHS funding, and we’ve explained how this funding type works below.

We also have guides explaining care funding in England and care funding in Scotland.

Council Funding For Care Homes in Wales

When paying care home fees, the value of your savings and assets, such as your home, will be worked out through a financial assessment, which immediately follows a care needs assessment. Whether you or your local authority pays depends on this value.

The upper threshold for care home fees in Wales is £50,000. There’s no lower threshold, meaning that if the total value of your savings and assets are below this amount, you’ll qualify for the maximum funding from your local authority regardless.

However, you may still be required to make a contribution. The minimum income amount is the minimum amount of money you must be left with each week when contributing towards care home costs. This is £39.50 per week in Wales for 2024/2025. The minimum income amount ensures any contribution you make will leave you with at least £39.50 left per week to spend however you like.

If the total value of your savings and assets is above £50,000, you’ll be classed as a self-funder and will pay for your own care home costs.

Council Funding For Home Care in Wales

The upper threshold for home care fees in Wales is £24,000. Again, there’s no lower threshold, so if your savings (your home isn’t included in a financial assessment for home care in Wales) are below £24,000, you’ll qualify for full funding from your local authority.

In Wales, you can only be charged a maximum of £100 per week for home care. If a service costs less than this amount, such as £50 a week, then this is how much you’ll pay. If a service costs more than this amount, such as £200 a week, you’ll still only have to make a £100 contribution.

The minimum income amount also applies here, meaning you must be left with at least £39.50 a week to spend however you like.

If you have less than £24,000 in savings but you have an income, this income will be considered when determining whether you need to contribute to your home care costs.

Receiving a Personal Budget

If it’s decided that your local authority will pay for some or all of your care, you’ll be given a personal budget. This must be enough to pay for at least one suitable care home or home care provider. You may be able to live in a more expensive care home if a third party pays the rest through a top-up fee.

Your local authority can either arrange and pay for care on your behalf, or they can make a direct payment into your bank account to be spent on the agreed-upon care you require.

NHS Continuing Healthcare in Wales

NHS continuing healthcare is for people with ongoing complex health needs. If eligible, the NHS will entirely fund your care fees, including any personal or nursing care you require.

Eligibility for continuing healthcare is assessed by your local Integrated Care Board (ICB) after a referral is made from a medical professional involved in your care.

NHS-Funded Nursing Care in Wales

Eligibility for NHS-funded nursing care in Wales is broadly the same as for NHS continuing healthcare. The only difference is that NHS-funded nursing care is only for people living in a care home who need frequent support from registered nurses.

For 2024/2025, funded nursing care is worth £201.74 a week.

Benefits For Self-Funders in Wales

If you pay for your own care in Wales, you could be eligible for a disability benefit such as Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Attendance Allowance is for people above the State Pension age, while PIP is for people below it. Attendance Allowance is worth £108.55 a week at the higher rate and £72.65 at the lower rate, while PIP is worth between £28.70 and £184.30 per week, depending on which parts and rates you qualify for.

Our 2024 Care Seeker Survey found that 20% of people are unaware of any benefits available to them, so it's important to know exactly what you're entitled to.

Lottie matches care seekers with the best care homes for their needs. You can request a free care home shortlist from our care experts, who will share homes matching your budget, location and type of care needed. You can also search for a care home in Wales through our easy-to-use directory.