Costs & funding
Paying for home care in Essex.
A plain-English guide to what affects the cost of care at home, and the help that may be available to pay for it.
What affects the cost
Every care plan is priced individually.
There is no single price for home care because no two care plans are the same. After a free assessment at home, we give you a clear written quote so you know exactly what you will pay before care starts. The main things that affect the cost are:
- How many visits you need and how long each one is
- Time of day — evenings, nights and weekends can cost more
- Bank holidays
- The type of care: regular visits, overnight, or live-in
- How complex the support is, for example if two carers are needed
Ways to pay
Help that may be available.
Paying privately (self-funding)
You arrange and pay for care directly with us. This gives the most choice over who visits and when. Many people self-fund either because their savings are above the council limit or because they want care in place quickly while an assessment is under way.
Funding from Essex County Council
Anyone who appears to need care and support can ask Essex County Council for a free needs assessment. If you are eligible, the council then carries out a financial assessment to work out how much, if anything, you should contribute. For 2026–27 in England, people with savings and capital above £23,250 usually pay the full cost of their care; below £14,250, capital is ignored and the contribution is based on income only. When care is provided in your own home, the value of your home is not counted.
Direct payments
If the council agrees to fund some or all of your care, you can usually ask to receive it as a direct payment and use it to choose your own care provider — including us — rather than having care arranged for you.
NHS Continuing Healthcare
If someone’s needs are mainly health needs rather than social care needs, the NHS may fund their care in full through NHS Continuing Healthcare. Eligibility is decided by the NHS after an assessment, usually started by a GP, nurse, social worker or hospital team.
Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care because of an illness or disability. It is not means-tested, so savings and income do not affect it, and it can be spent on care at home. For 2026–27 it is paid at £76.70 a week (lower rate) or £114.60 a week (higher rate).
Asking Essex County Council for an assessment
Call Essex County Council Adult Social Care on 0345 603 7630 (Monday to Thursday 8:45am–5pm, Friday 8:45am–4:30pm), or apply online at essex.gov.uk/get-social-care-help. If you look after someone, you can also ask for a carer’s assessment for yourself.
Figures are for the 2026–27 financial year in England and are set by the government each April. This page is general information, not financial or legal advice. For independent advice, Age UK Essex and your local Citizens Advice can help.
FAQs
Common questions about paying for care.
Ready to talk it through? See our services, the areas we cover, or ask us for a quote.
Speak to our team today.
Care may be available within 24 hours. Call us for calm, honest advice — or ask us to call you back.
Subject to assessment, care needs and staffing availability.