Free CHC & Care Funding Guides

Free, evidence-based guides on UK care funding. Written in plain English, based on primary legislation.

All articles are reviewed by social workers and care professionals. Our content follows an independent editorial policy with named sources, published dates, and a clear corrections process.

Attendance Allowance 2026: Rates, Eligibility & How to Apply

Attendance Allowance pays £72.65–£108.55/week (April 2026) to people 65+ with care needs. Complete UK family guide to rates, eligibility & the AA1 form.

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Care Act Assessments 2026: How They Work & Who's Eligible

Care Act assessments under sections 9, 10 and 17 are the gateway to council-funded UK social care. Family guide to the three types, eligibility & how to request.

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Care Home Costs by Region UK: 2026 Data

Care home costs range from £897/week in the North East to £1,579 in the South East. Full 2026 regional breakdown with nursing, residential and dementia rates.

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Carer's Allowance 2026: Rates, Eligibility & CHC Rules

Carer's Allowance rose to £86.45/week in April 2026 (DWP), and the earnings limit is now permanently indexed to 16 hours x the National Living Wage. UK family guide.

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Casey Commission and CHC: What Reform Means for Families

Baroness Casey's commission is examining the NHS/social care boundary — CHC is central to its brief. Here's what reform could mean, and why families shouldn't wait.

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The CHC Annual Review: What Can Change & How to Protect It

28,362 people lost NHS CHC funding in a single quarter in 2025. Here's what triggers a review, how to prepare evidence, and what to do if funding is reduced.

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CHC Cost-Shifting: What It Means for Families in 2026

Councils overspent adult social care by £774m in 2024-25 — 73% blame CHC cost-shifting. Here's what happens when the NHS hands your family the bill.

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CHC Funding for Dementia: Essential Family Guide

80.5% of CHC assessments are refused (NHS England 2024-25), and dementia families face the system's worst structural disadvantages. Here's how to evidence them.

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What Happens at an NHS CHC MDT Assessment? A Family's 2026 Guide

Only 18% of NHS CHC assessments end in eligibility. What happens at the MDT meeting, how the 12-domain Decision Support Tool scores, and how families prepare evidence.

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The CHC Postcode Lottery: Why Geography Decides Outcomes

Nuffield Trust data shows a nearly five-fold variation in NHS CHC eligibility — 3.4% to 57.9% across ICBs. Find your area's rate and what to do next.

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Deferred Payment Agreement: 2026 UK Family Guide

Deferred Payment Agreements let families defer care home fees against the home's value at 4.75% interest in 2026. UK family guide to costs & CHC alternative.

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