04/02/2026
Social care assessments and funding in England: what private clients need to know
If you’re starting to wonder whether you (or a family member) might need support at home, it helps to understand how adult social care works in England. Two key steps are involved:
- a needs assessment (about what help is needed), and
- a financial assessment (about who pays).
Your right to a needs assessment
In England, if there is any realistic prospect that you might need care and support, the local authority (council) must consider your situation and, where appropriate, carry out a needs assessment. This assessment is not based on your income or savings—it’s about your needs.
The national eligibility criteria (Care Act 2014)
After your assessment, the council decides whether your needs meet the national minimum eligibility threshold. Under the Care Act framework, needs are eligible when all three of the following are met:
Your needs arise from a physical or mental impairment or illness, and
You are unable to achieve two or more specified daily living outcomes on your own, and
As a result, there is (or is likely to be) a significant impact on your wellbeing.
If all three conditions are met, your needs are eligible, and the council has a duty to meet those eligible needs.
Important: there is no fixed “score” that automatically triggers support. The decision focuses on how your difficulties affect day-to-day life and wellbeing, not on money and not on a simple points total.
What happens after the needs assessment: the financial means test
Once your needs are assessed, the council may carry out a financial assessment (means test) to decide how much you will contribute towards the cost of care. In England, for the 2025–2026 financial year, the main capital limits are:
Upper capital limit: £23,250
Lower capital limit: £14,250
This means that even if you have money in the bank, social services can still assess you—but the means test will affect whether the council contributes to the cost.
How savings affect what you pay (England)
In general terms:
If your savings/capital are above £23,250: you will usually be expected to pay the full cost of your care (you are often referred to as a self-funder).
If your savings are between £14,250 and £23,250: you will usually pay a contribution, and the council may contribute too.
Councils often apply “tariff income” rules in this band.
If your savings are below £14,250: the council will usually pay more, and you typically contribute from income (what you can reasonably afford).
The financial assessment usually considers bank accounts, pensions, and other income. Savings are treated as capital and can affect how much you must contribute.
A common scenario: eligible needs but higher savings
It’s very common for people to be assessed as needing care, but to still be expected to fund it themselves at first because their savings are above the upper limit. In that situation:
you should still be able to receive a needs assessment, but
you may need to pay privately until your savings reduce towards the threshold (at which point you can ask the council to reassess funding support).
What to do next
If you want exact figures for your circumstances—and to plan confidently—ask your local council for a financial assessment (sometimes called a “care charging” or “means test” assessment). They can explain what you would pay based on your income and capital.
