# Care Cost Calculator for England & Wales | Care Savings Estimate care costs and funding in England and Wales. Explore self-funding, council contributions, property disregards and possible benefits. Canonical: https://www.carecostcalculator.co.uk/ Independent guidance · England & Wales Understand who could pay for care, what you may contribute, and which questions to ask next. [Find your starting point ↓](#calculator)Free to use. No sign-up to the calculator. Your answers stay in your browser. A NOTE BEFORE YOU BEGIN ## You do not have to figure it all out at once. Start with a care quote and what you know. If a property rule or allowance is uncertain, we will show the uncertainty, not pretend it is a decision. A starting point, not a funding decision. England & Wales, kept separate2026/27 funding rulesNo personal answers collected Before you start ## A few figures. No personal documents. Allow a few minutes. Use the person’s own figures, not the whole household’s. You can go back and change answers. - A weekly care quote or council-agreed package - Accessible savings, investments and any property details - Confirmed weekly pensions, benefits and relevant costs Not sure about an asset or allowance? Use the uncertainty options and ask for a written assessment. [See what to prepare](/terms-and-conditions#prepare). Your care cost calculator ## Who could pay for your care? Four steps · Use the figures you know Check whether you are likely to pay the full cost, estimate your contribution if the council helps, and find benefits worth checking. Your answers stay inside this calculator. No financial details are sent, stored or shared. ### The calculator needs JavaScript You can still read every guide and the methodology. [Find your council](https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council) to request an assessment without using this tool. Step 1 of 4: Care and funding - 1 · Care - 2 · Assets & home - 3 · Income - 4 · Support Care and fundingUse a real quote or an agreed council care budget. We do not assume a local care price. Country responsible for care fundingEnglandWalesScotland and Northern Ireland use different rules and are not covered. Care settingCare homeCare in your own home / community Care-home stayPermanentTemporary / respite Age bandChoose an age band18 to 24, below Pension Credit age25 or over, below Pension Credit ageAt or above Pension Credit / State Pension ageState Pension age is changing. [Check your own pension age](https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-age). Planned length of this temporary stayNot sureUp to eight weeksMore than eight weeks, normally up to 52 weeks Council-confirmed charging basisNot confirmed — show uncertaintyNon-residential / community assessmentTemporary residential assessment Total weekly care cost (£)Use the weekly package cost before your own contribution. If an NHS nursing award is confirmed, follow the provider’s contract and avoid deducting it twice. Meals, top-ups and extras are separate. What is this cost based on?A private quote / provisional care budgetThe council’s agreed personal budget / package cost A confirmed free-care package?Use these routes only for care already confirmed as covered. This calculator cannot award NHS or mental-health funding. Funding route for this whole care packageOrdinary council means test / private paymentConfirmed NHS Continuing HealthcareConfirmed section 117 mental-health aftercareConfirmed free reablement in England (within free period) The relevant organisation has confirmed this route covers this whole package. Savings, assets and the main homeUse the person’s own beneficial share. Property value is kept separate from accessible savings. Accessible savings and investments (£)Enter 0 if none. Include the person's share of joint savings. Do not include property or undrawn pension funds here. Other assessable assets, excluding the main home (£)For example another property, after the relevant valuation deductions. Ask the council about trusts, compensation and insurance products. Do they own a beneficial share of their main home?Choose an answerNoYesNot sure The main home is disregarded for care in your own home. A second property or other assets can still count. What is the plan to return home?Not sureReturn to the main home, which remains availableTaking steps to replace it with a more suitable home to return toNo plan to return to an available home Has the council made a current property decision?No decision / not sureConfirmed disregard is currently in forceConfirmed the home is counted Who lives there as their main or only home?Not sureNo onePartner / civil partner / non-estranged former partnerEstranged or divorced partner who is a lone parentQualifying relative aged 60 or overThe care resident’s child aged under 18Qualifying relative who is incapacitatedOther carer who gave up their own homeSomeone else Have they occupied it continuously since before the care-home move?Not sureYesNo / they moved in later Does that estranged / divorced lone parent have a dependent child? (Wales)Not sureYesNo Who counts as a qualifying relative?Parents, parents-in-law, children and children-in-law (including adopted children), step-parents and step-children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews; and partners of the first group through siblings. The council checks the statutory definition and evidence. “Incapacitated” is not limited to having a diagnosed illness; relevant benefits or equivalent incapacity may provide evidence. Wales also requires a dependent child for the estranged lone-parent route. A younger carer or a later move can require a discretionary council decision. 12-week property disregardNot sure — show uncertaintyFirst move into permanent careQualifying relative died or entered care unexpectedlyCouncil confirmed a discretionary 12-week disregardNo current 12-week disregard / it has ended Date that 12-week disregard startedThe permanent admission date or the date the qualifying disregard unexpectedly ended. An initial disregard does not restart just because savings later fall. Property value, secured debt and selling costsComplete this if the home could count now or after 12 weeks. A blank value remains unknown. Do not enter a simple percentage of the whole-house price as a confirmed joint-share valuation. Market value of their beneficial share (£)Before selling-cost and secured-debt deductions. Leave blank if unknown. Secured debt attributable to that share (£) Would actual selling expenses arise?Yes — use the statutory 10% deductionNo — no selling-cost deduction Basis for that property share valueSole-owned property / a provisional share estimateCouncil / professional valuation of the beneficial shareJoint ownership — share valuation unresolved Capital disregards or resources needing a council decisionCouncil-confirmed disregard from the assets entered above (£)Do not subtract the main home again. Do not use this for an unconfirmed trust, gift or compensation disregard. Any gifts, transfers, trusts, disputed ownership or undrawn pensions requiring assessment?No, as far as I knowYesNot sureThese can involve notional resources. The care-fee rules do not have a blanket seven-year safe period. English councils can use higher capital limits for home care. Enter a local limit only if confirmed; otherwise the national reference is used. Confirmed local upper capital limit (£), if different Confirmed local lower capital limit (£), if different Weekly income and protected costsUse net weekly amounts for the person receiving care. Enter 0 if none. Do not enter a partner’s separate income. State Pension, other benefits and other assessable income (£/week)Exclude private pensions, earnings, mobility and care disability benefits entered separately below. Enter Savings Credit separately. Exclude Housing Benefit, Council Tax support and direct payments for care. Savings interest/dividends normally form part of capital, not chargeable income. Ask about other benefit disregards. Private / occupational pension or retirement annuity (£/week) Current disability benefitNoneAttendance AllowancePIPDLAArmed Forces Independence PaymentAnother disability benefitNot sure Care / daily-living disability benefit currently paid (£/week)For care-home council support, the estimate uses the ongoing position after usual benefit-stopping rules. The benefit office must confirm exceptions and linked stays. Income that is disregarded, and pension protection for a spouseEmployment / self-employment earnings (£/week) PIP / DLA mobility component (£/week) Earnings and the PIP/DLA mobility component are disregarded in the care means test. They are not added to chargeable income. Savings Credit element of Pension Credit (£/week)Do not include this again in other benefits. It is fully disregarded for care at home; care-home treatment is different. At least half of the private pension is paid to a spouse / civil partner living elsewhere for their maintenanceNoYes — apply the 50% disregardThis applies to the private pension entered, not State Pension. It does not automatically apply to an unmarried partner. For a confirmed temporary resident, Attendance Allowance, DLA care and PIP daily-living payments are disregarded while received. Ask the benefit office about stopping dates and linked hospital or respite periods. Other council-confirmed income disregard (£/week)Only amounts included in assessable income above. For example confirmed charitable/war-pension or night-care benefit disregards. Do not repeat earnings, mobility or pension transfer. Care-home Savings Credit disregardNot sure — allow for an unconfirmed disregardCouncil confirmed no Savings Credit disregardCouncil confirmed an amount (enter below) Council Savings Credit assessment basisNot sure — allow for either maximumIndividual (maximum £7.30 in England)Couple rules (maximum £11.00 in England)These England rates are not applied to Wales. Council-confirmed Savings Credit disregard (£/week)Do not repeat this in other income disregards. Additional allowances / temporary-stay living costsCouncil-confirmed protected weekly income (£), if higherFor a temporary stay this is needed for an individual estimate. Include assessed housing/living costs; do not use a permanent-resident allowance alone. Household positionSingle personMember of a coupleLone parent Has either partner reached Pension Credit age?Not sureYesNo Dependent children in the same household MIG disability premiumsNot sure — show a contribution rangeConfirmed noneConfirmed disability premiumConfirmed enhanced disability premiumConfirmed both premiumsHaving PIP/Attendance Allowance does not by itself tell this calculator which MIG premiums apply. MIG carer premium for the person being assessedNot sure — show a contribution rangeConfirmed noneConfirmed applicable Council-confirmed Welsh basic weekly benefit entitlement (£)Use the basic entitlement for this financial assessment, not total income. The calculator adds the 35% buffer and at least 10% disability allowance. Leave blank if unknown; we will show a range, not invent an amount. Net housing costs (£/week)Rent/mortgage and Council Tax after related support. Exclude ordinary bills already covered by protected income. Disability-related costs not met by the care package (£/week)For example disability-related extra heating or laundry. Council evidence/approval may be needed. Do not enter the care charge itself. Further council-confirmed allowance (£/week)A further amount beyond protected income and other deductions already entered. Enter it only once. Benefits and the next stepsThese answers help identify benefits to check. Potential awards are never added to your income automatically. Help or supervision needed because of disability / healthNot sureDuring the dayDuring the nightDuring both day and nightNo care or supervision needs How long have these needs applied?Not sureAt least six monthsLess than six monthsMedical professional confirmed end-of-life special rules Is there an unpaid family / friend carer?NoYes Does the placement include registered nursing care?No / not confirmedYes Optional private-pay savings projectionThis separate scenario keeps paying the entered quote. It does not switch automatically to a council charge, turn property into cash or add unawarded benefits. Weekly income to keep for other spending (£)This is your private budget choice, separate from the council’s protected-income calculation. Assumed annual care-fee increase (%)An assumption, not a forecast. Income and current rules are held fixed. This estimates the financial position. Your council must assess eligible care needs, resources, disregards and a sufficient personal budget before confirming support. BackNext: assets & homeSee my funding estimate Rules checked 3 October 2026 · 2026/27 rates. Financial estimates for adults in England and Wales. Not a council funding decision, benefit award or recommendation to sell a home. [Care Act 2014](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/23/section/17)[England 2026/27 rates](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-care-charging-for-local-authorities-2026-to-2027/social-care-charging-for-care-and-support-2026-to-2027-local-authority-circular)[England statutory guidance](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-statutory-guidance/care-and-support-statutory-guidance)[Wales rates](https://www.gov.wales/charging-social-care)[Wales charging code](https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2025-12/social-services-and-well-being-act-wales-2014-part-4-and-5-code-of-practice-charging-and-financial-assessment-2025.pdf) Print your estimateTo keep a result, use Print after calculating. Expand the details you want to keep. Your device controls printing and saving. Supporting sources compared on 20 October 2026. Original calculator rules version 2.0.0 is preserved. [Read the checks and caveats](/sources). Make sense of the estimate ## Three things worth knowing. 01 ### Country and care setting come first. England’s usual capital limits are £23,250 and £14,250. Wales uses £50,000 for residential care and £24,000 for care at home. Income and care needs matter too. 02 ### A home is not the same as cash. Who lives in the property, the type of care and any disregard affect the assessment. The calculator keeps home equity separate from accessible savings. 03 ### The council makes the decision. An estimate is not an award. Ask for a care-needs and financial assessment before funds become low. NHS Continuing Healthcare has a separate eligibility process. Wales’ £100 weekly maximum concerns council-arranged non-residential care. It does not cap a private home-care agency’s invoice. Take the next step ## Good questions. Clearer answers. [All care funding guides ↗](/blog) [01 England and Wales ### Care funding in England and Wales: choose the right savings limit Choose the correct country and capital test. Read the guide ↗](/post/care-funding-england-wales-savings-limits)[02 England and Wales ### How to compare a care quote with your weekly income Compare a quote with confirmed weekly income. Read the guide ↗](/post/compare-care-quote-weekly-income)[03 England and Wales ### Do you have to sell your house to pay for care? Check whether a home should count. Read the guide ↗](/post/do-you-have-to-sell-house-pay-for-care)[04 England and Wales ### Paying for your own care: benefits worth checking Check benefits alongside self-funded care. Read the guide ↗](/post/paying-for-your-own-care-benefits-worth-checking)[05 England ### Care funding in England: self-funding, council contributions and your home (2026/27) Understand an English care-funding assessment. Read the guide ↗](/post/care-funding-in-england-self-funding-council-contributions-and-your-home-2026-27)[06 Wales ### Care funding in Wales: capital limits, contributions and property rules (2026/27) Understand a Welsh care-funding assessment. Read the guide ↗](/post/care-funding-in-wales-capital-limits-contributions-and-property-rules-2026-27) BS Who is behind Care Savings? ## Created by Ben Slater. Care Savings is an independent resource created by social worker Ben Slater. It offers general information and estimates for adults in England and Wales. [About the site, its sources and responsibilities ↗](/about) [How the estimate works ↗](/terms-and-conditions) Before you make a decision ## Questions people often need answered. Does being below a savings limit mean care is free?No. Eligible needs, assessable income, applicable disregards and the agreed care package still matter. [Compare the England and Wales capital tests](/post/care-funding-england-wales-savings-limits). Do I have to sell my home?Not automatically. The country, care setting, who lives there and property-disregard conditions matter. A property valuation is not cash for the next invoice. [Check how a home can be treated](/post/do-you-have-to-sell-house-pay-for-care). Can I include a benefit I might receive?Keep an unawarded benefit out of your confirmed income. Explore it separately until an award confirms the amount and start date. [Read the benefits checks](/post/paying-for-your-own-care-benefits-worth-checking). Who confirms the result?Your council assesses care needs and financial contributions. The relevant NHS organisation decides NHS funding. The calculator does not submit an application or make either decision. [Find your council on GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council).