Who pays for palliative care at home?

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Who Pays for Palliative Care at Home?

In the UK, palliative care at home can be funded in several ways. Your loved one’s eligibility for financial support will depend on their individual circumstances, including their savings, income, and assets.

Here are the main ways palliative home care is funded:

1. NHS FundingPalliative care is often funded by the NHS if the individual is assessed as having a primary healthcare need. NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is a package of care arranged and funded by the NHS and can be delivered at home. If your loved one qualifies for this, the NHS will cover the cost of all their palliative care at home.
2. To find out if your loved one qualifies, they will need to undergo an assessment by healthcare professionals. More information on this can be found in the NHS guide on Continuing Healthcare.
3. Local Authority FundingIf your loved one doesn’t qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare, they may still receive support from their local authority. This will depend on the outcome of a financial assessment, which considers their savings, income, and assets. Local authorities in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland may offer funding to cover part or all of the cost of palliative care at home.
4. Local authority funding is means-tested, meaning individuals with assets over a certain threshold (currently £23,250 in England) may be required to pay for their care. You can read more about financial assessments on the UK Government website.
5. Self-fundingIf your loved one’s savings and assets exceed the threshold for local authority funding, they may need to self-fund their palliative care at home. This means paying privately for care services. However, they may still be eligible for other forms of financial assistance, such as Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which are non-means-tested benefits designed to help with the extra costs of a long-term illness.
6. Charitable and Voluntary Sector SupportIn addition to NHS and local authority funding, many charities provide support for palliative care at home. Organisations such as Marie Curie and Macmillan Cancer Support offer care services and financial advice, which can be a valuable resource for families.

Financial Support for Palliative Care at Home

Even if your loved one is self-funding, there are several benefits available to help with the costs of palliative care at home:

• Attendance Allowance: A non-means-tested benefit for those over the State Pension age who require help with personal care due to a disability or long-term illness. It’s available to those receiving palliative care at home and can contribute to covering care costs. More information can be found on the Gov.uk website.
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP): For individuals under the State Pension age who require assistance with daily living or mobility due to a long-term illness. This can be a helpful source of financial support if your loved one is receiving palliative care at home.
• Carer’s Allowance: If a family member or friend is acting as your loved one’s carer, they may be eligible for Carer’s Allowance. This can help cover some of the financial burden of providing unpaid care. For more information, see the Carer's Allowance section on Gov.uk.

Is There Any Cost to the Family?

Typically, the cost of palliative care at home is covered by a combination of NHS funding, local authority support, and the individual’s own resources. Family members are not legally obliged to pay for their loved one’s care unless they choose to contribute or sign a financial agreement.

If your loved one’s assets exceed the threshold for funding, families may choose to arrange a deferred payment agreement with the local authority. This allows the cost of care to be repaid from the person’s estate after their death, thus avoiding the need to sell the family home during their lifetime. More details on deferred payment agreements can be found here.

Conclusion

Navigating the financial aspects of palliative care at home can be complex, but there are many sources of support available, from NHS Continuing Healthcare to local authority funding and government benefits. It’s important to assess your loved one’s needs and resources early on to determine who pays for palliative care at home. For more detailed guidance on funding, you can refer to the NHS Continuing Healthcare guide and local authority funding.

Planning ahead and understanding your options can help ensure that your loved one receives the care they need without placing undue financial pressure on the family.

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