If your needs meet your council’s eligibility threshold, your local council can fund some or all of your home care. In Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire that involves a free needs assessment, a separate financial assessment, and a personal care plan.
Two assessments, in this order
The two assessments are separate, and they happen in a fixed order.
1. The needs assessment. Every adult in England has a legal right to a free assessment of their care and support needs, whatever their income and savings. That right comes from the Care Act 2014. A social worker or assessor from your council looks at what you can manage day to day: washing, dressing, meals, medication, getting around the home and staying connected to people. The threshold is set nationally and based on the impact on your wellbeing.
2. The financial assessment. If the council agrees your needs are eligible, a financial assessment of your savings, income and assets follows. From that, the council works out how much you pay towards your care, which can be the full cost.
You can arrange care privately at any time, including while an assessment is in progress.
How the capital thresholds work
For 2026 to 2027, the Department of Health and Social Care has kept the capital limits at the levels set in 2010. This is the 16th year running that they have been frozen.
| Capital position | What it usually means for home care |
|---|---|
| Above £23,250 | You pay the full cost of your care from your assets |
| Between £14,250 and £23,250 | You contribute a tariff from capital (£1 per week for every £250 between the two limits), plus an income-based contribution |
| Below £14,250 | You pay what you can afford from your income alone |
For home care, the value of your home is not usually counted. It can count in some care home cases.
The local rate gap
Local authority direct payment rates in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire are typically £18 to £25 per hour. Helping at Home’s standard hourly rate is £31. Councils buy in bulk and negotiate lower rates. Providers working on council rates alone tend to run a different model on continuity, training pay and travel time.
If you want a provider whose rate sits above the council’s, you can top up the difference privately. We accept council-funded clients on this basis. We aim to give each client a core team of up to four carers, and families get updates through Birdie. The page on direct payments explains the mechanics.
Direct payment, or council-arranged?
If you’re eligible, the council can arrange care with a provider from its approved list, or pay your assessed amount to you as a direct payment so you choose the provider yourself. Our direct payments page compares the two, and Nottinghamshire County Council publishes guidance on direct payments.
If you’re in Newark, Bingham, Ollerton, Southwell or surrounding villages
Nottinghamshire County Council assesses and funds care for people living in Newark and Sherwood, Rushcliffe and Bassetlaw. To start, contact the Customer Services Centre or apply for an assessment online. Families regularly tell us the process takes longer than they expected, especially the financial assessment.
If you’re in Grantham, Long Bennington or Bottesford
Most of Grantham sits in South Kesteven, which is covered by Lincolnshire County Council. Bottesford is in Leicestershire, which has its own council (Leicestershire County Council) and its own rates. If your family member’s address sits across an authority boundary, the assessment is carried out by the council where they live, not where their family lives.
We work across all three councils and can tell you who to call first.
What happens if the council says you’re not eligible
You can still arrange care privately, with full choice over the provider, the carers and the visit pattern. Many of our clients are self-funders who didn’t meet the council’s threshold.
You can also reapply at any point if needs change. A hospital stay, a fall, or a change in your family member’s condition can all trigger a fresh look.
What happens next
To talk through council funding, call us on 01636 646915. If you already have a direct payment, our office team can show you how to use it to start care with us.
