Social care isn’t automatically funded by the government; therefore, you may have to pick up some or all of the cost, depending on your situation. Let’s look at some of the ways you might pay for this.

A financial assessment

As social care is typically privately funded, or at least partially, you will be required to undergo a financial assessment to establish whether you will qualify for any care costs from the local council. This comes hand-in-hand with a care needs assessment to identify the level of care required.

The financial assessment determines what help you might be eligible for based on your income, your capital, your savings, and your pensions and benefits. You should be honest and not seek to hide anything. If the patient has no funds, a financial assessment may be necessary for their spouse or next of kin.

The types of care you might pay for

If you or a loved one are in need of social care, you may be looking at different options, such as care at home or residential care. The latter is the most comprehensive and expensive option.

If you haven’t already been through the process, you can organise power of attorney online using a company such as powerofattorneyonline.co.uk. This enables your attorney to act on your behalf if you are no longer able to.

In-home care may consist of help with morning routines, meal preparation, or taking the individual to doctor and hospital appointments, whereas residential care is a provision of 24/7, around-the-clock care.