What you might pay for care
Adult social care isn’t free like NHS healthcare. How much you pay depends on your income, savings and some expenses. We work this out through a financial assessment. We’ll tell you what you need to pay and what the council will pay. If your circumstances change, we’ll review it.
If you choose not to have a financial assessment, you’ll pay the full cost of your care.
How we work it out
- Savings of £23,250 or more: You usually pay the full cost of your care.
- Savings under £23,250: We’ll do a financial assessment to work out what you pay.
- We make sure you have enough for everyday living costs.
What services usually cost
These are guideline rates to help you plan. Your actual contribution depends on your financial assessment and may be less (or nothing).
- Home care: up to £25.76 an hour (rural enhanced* up to £26.54).
- Direct payments – Personal Assistants: up to £17.13 an hour.
- Day services: from £84.90 per 8 hour session (learning disability) or £67.39 per session (older people).
- Shared Lives: weekly and sessional rates vary by band.
- Reablement: free for up to 6 weeks, then normal charges apply (if the person choses to remain in this service, the standard charges are £43.98 per hour).
- Transport: £8.08 per standard return journey / £13.46 per rural enhanced return journey (Mental health and learning disability) or £17.06 per return journey per day (older people).
(Some services, like residential care, have provider‑specific rates. We’ll confirm these individually.)
*Enhanced means the rural location. (Moorlands North, Moorlands south and Newcastle North)
