Paying for residential services

If you need to move into a care home, you may have to pay some or all of the cost. How much you pay depends on your money, savings and property. We can help you understand your options and whether financial support is available.
How much you pay depends on:

• your income
• your savings and investments
• any property or land you own
• whether you qualify for financial support

We will carry out a financial assessment to work out what you can afford to pay.

Paying for care homes in Surrey: At a glance

If you are moving into residential care in Surrey:

• most people pay something towards residential care
• if you have more than £23,250 in savings and assets, you will usually pay the full cost
• if you have less than £23,250, you may qualify for help with costs
• your income is usually included in the assessment
• you can keep money for personal expenses
• help is available if your savings are running low

How much will I pay for residential care?

If we arrange for you to go into a residential or nursing home, you will usually have to pay towards the cost. Charges are payable from the day you move in.

How much you pay depends on how much money you have. If you have:

• more than £23,250 in capital* then you will pay for the full cost of your care
• between £14,250 and £23,250, you will pay £1 a week for every £250 or part of £250 over £14,250 plus a contribution from your income
• less than £23,250 in savings and assets (capital) then we will carry out a financial assessment. This will tell us if you qualify for help with costs and how much you may need to pay

*Capital includes savings, investments and other assets.

See our Care Cost Indicator to find out average residential care costs.

If you are above the threshold, see Arranging and paying for care yourself.

Financial assessment for residential care and care home fees

A financial assessment looks at:

• your savings and investments
• your income, such as pensions and benefits
• any property or land you own
• some expenses that reduce the amount you need to pay

We use this information to work out how much you can afford to pay towards your care.

If you choose not to complete a financial assessment, you may have to pay the full cost of your care.

Find out more about: Guide to getting a financial assessment.

What is not included in a residential care financial assessment

If you receive financial support towards your care, you will not be expected to give up all of your income. You will be able to keep a weekly amount for personal spending.

We make deductions and allowances each week, such as:

• £31.80 for personal expenses
• up to £7.30 from Savings Credit
• £10 of a war widow’s or war widower’s pension
• 50% of an occupational or private pension if it is to be made available to your spouse at home
• any charitable payment you get

If you are a temporary resident, we can allow for some of your housing costs. We can allow for:

• your share of mortgage or rent payments
• Council Tax
• water rates
• buildings insurance

We allow an extra £20 each week, up to 8 weeks, for any other expenditure you may have.

Benefits and financial support for residential care

Many people are missing out on benefits they are entitled to. We can help you check what support may be available. This is important as we include benefits in the charge we ask you to pay. We will offer to help you make a claim if you need us to.

Does owning a home affect care home fees?

Your home will not always be included in your financial assessment.
Examples include where:

• your stay in a care home is temporary
• your property qualifies for a property disregard
• certain relatives continue to live in the property

If we take your home into account, we will ignore its value for up to 12 weeks. This is called the 12-week property disregard. This starts from the date you first became a permanent resident. If you own a second property, we will take the value of that into account from the date of admission.

Once the 12-week period is up, you must:

• know how you will fund the full cost of your care
• have arrangements in place

We recommend you take independent financial advice.

Find out more about: What happens to my home?

Do I need to sell my home to pay for care?

Having a home does not automatically mean you must sell it.

If most of your money is tied up in your property, you may be able to apply for a Deferred Payment Agreement.

This means we may pay some of your care home costs on your behalf and you pay us back later. This usually happens once you sell your property.

Find out more about: Deferred payments.

Help with nursing home fees and NHS funding

Some nursing costs may be paid by the NHS.

If you live in a nursing home and need care from a registered nurse, you may qualify for NHS-funded Nursing Care.

If you have complex medical needs, you may qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare, which is not means-tested.

Find out more about: Paying for health-related care.

Care home top-up fees explained

If you receive financial support, you may want to choose a care home that costs more than we would normally pay.

The difference between the care home's fees and our agreed rate is called a top-up payment.

A top-up is usually paid by:

• a family member
• a friend
• another third party

In some circumstances, you may be able to pay the top-up yourself.
Anyone paying a top-up must be able to show they can continue making payments for as long as they are needed.

Find out more: What are care home top-up fees? (Age UK)

What happens if I have to pay the full cost?

If you want to move into a care home on a permanent basis, you should ask us for a social care needs assessment. This will help you decide how best to meet your care and support needs.

We can also:

• tell you about local homes to help you decide which home best suits your needs
• advise whether you can continue living at home with support and help you find services

It is also important that you get independent financial advice. This will help you make the right decision about funding your care.

Before choosing a care home, think about whether you will be able to afford it in the future. The council has a limit on how much it will pay towards your care home fees. If you choose a home that charges more, someone else will usually need to pay the difference. If they cannot, you may have to move to a different care home.

Find out more: What to do if your money is running low.

What happens when your savings fall below £23,250?

If you are paying for care yourself, and your savings are getting close to falling below £23,250, contact us as soon as possible.

We recommend getting in touch at least 3 months before your savings fall below the limit.

Find out more: What to do if your money is running low.

Independent financial advice for paying care home fees

Paying for long-term care can be a significant financial decision.

Independent financial advice may help you:

• understand your options
• plan for future care costs
• make decisions about your property or savings
• make sure you are claiming all available benefits

Find out more: independent financial advice.

Files available to download

• Paying for care – an information guide for people living in Surrey 2026 (PDF)
  This booklet provides information on the different types of care and support services Adult Social Care charge for and what services are free