Though people with assets worth over £23,250 will not receive state help over their care fees, that is not to say that they will receive no help whatsoever. Though most benefits are means tested, Attendance Allowance isn’t and therefore is payable to all those aged over 65 who have needed care for managing essential daily tasks for longer than six consecutive months, whether or not they are in a care home. The allowance has two rates; £49.30 is the lower rate for those needing help during the day or night whereas the higher rate of £73.60 is for those requiring help both day and night. An additional nursing care allowance, also non-means tested and tax free is now payable to those needing nursing care at home or in a nursing home.

Another benefit which should be borne in mind is the NHS Continuing Healthcare provisions, where the cost of care is paid for completely by the NHS.

Continuing Healthcare has been more clearly defined since a new National Framework was implemented in 2007, but despite this the decision on whether a person qualifies for NHS funding for care is still dependant on the individual primary care trust relating to that person and where they live. So there is something of a postcode lottery operating and there have been numerous examples of people who should have qualified for Continuing Healthcare not receiving it. Anyone can ask for a healthcare needs assessment so that their individual needs can be considered for Continuing Healthcare.

All those who may be in a position of being elderly and envisaging needing care in the not too distant future and those who have a relative in that position should look at all the possibilities that exist. So, even if they have assets which disqualify them from being eligible for local authority funding, they should be aware that there are some benefits which are not means tested, including Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Nursing Care Allowance, Personal Care Allowance and other benefits such as Pension Credit and Carers Allowance. They should also look into the NHS Continuing Healthcare scheme to see whether they may be eligible.