Estimate how much you may need to pay towards your care
Our estimator is new, please give us your feedback so we can improve it.
Most people will need to pay something towards their care and support. Our estimator gives you an idea of how much you may need to pay.
The assessment process
When you have a care needs assessment, we calculate how much it will cost to meet your care needs. This is called your personal budget. We then complete a means tested financial assessment to work out the maximum amount you will need to pay towards the cost of your care. This is called your maximum ability to pay amount.
If your maximum ability to pay amount is:
- more than your personal budget, you will have to pay for all of your care.
- less than your personal budget, you will have to pay your maximum ability to pay amount and we will pay the rest.
- zero, we will pay for your care.
Find out more about the financial assessment process and how we calculate how much you will pay.
What the estimator does
If you enter full and accurate information, we will estimate your maximum ability to pay amount. It does not replace a financial assessment and we will not save any of the information you enter. When we complete your financial assessment, we will ask for this information again.
You can use it to estimate how much you may need to pay towards:
- temporary residential care
- permanent residential care
- care at home or in the community.
If you have over £23,250 in shares, savings (including current accounts) and investments and need permanent residential care, you can also use it to find out when you should make an adult social care referral.
People who get Carer's Allowance or get benefits for dependants
If you get Carers Allowance or benefits for dependants, we cannot estimate how much you'll need to pay towards your care and support. We will need to complete a full financial assessment. To begin the process, request a care needs assessment.
Before you start
To estimate how much you may need to pay, we'll need to know about:
- your shares, savings (including current accounts) and investments
- your pensions - how much you receive and how often
- any other income you receive
- which benefits you get, how much you receive and how often
- your housing costs (including Council Tax, ground rent, mortgage or rent and service charges).