Self-funders

If you are paying for the full cost of the services you receive to live independently at home or in a care home, you are known as a self funder.

A self funder means that either:

  • You have chosen not to approach adult social care for help
  • You have chosen not to be financially assessed
  • You have been assessed but are not currently eligible for adult social care services
  • You have approached adult social care and your needs show you are eligible for social care support, however, your savings or assets are above £23,250

Where can I get help as a self funder?

If we can't help with the costs of your care, you are still entitled to the same help as everyone else with accessing information and advice.

For more information visit our independent financial advice about paying for care page.

We can also help you with working out your care needs and preparing a care and support plan to help you meet your needs.

We can do this by arranging a care assessment and visiting you at home to look at the activities that you are able to achieve and those that you may need support with. There is no charge for this service.

If you live in your own home and you are not entitled to financial support from the council but you have eligible care needs, you can ask the council to arrange your care for you.

If you ask us to arrange your care for you we will charge you a flat rate fee. This will cover the council's costs in finding a care provider and negotiating the rate your provider will charge you for the services provided.

If you ask us to enter into a contract with a care provider on your behalf, we will charge you a fee to cover our administration costs. This will cover the council's costs for making payments to the care provider, and sending you invoices for care charges. These charges apply in addition to your care fees.

Self funders - fees for arranging care and support

Charge for arranging care and support (flat rate fee)
This will cover the council's costs in finding a care provider for you and negotiating the rate your provider will charge for services. £100
An invoice will be sent to you after we have arranged your care with your chosen provider.
Administration charge (managing your care and support contract)
If you ask us to enter into a contract with a care provider on your behalf, we will charge you a fee to cover our administration costs. This will cover the council's costs for making payments to the care provider, and sending you invoices for care charges. £9.50
The fee will be shown on each invoice we send you. We usually send out 12 invoices each year.

You can get more information about options for funding your care from not-for-profit websites such as Paying for Care and Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA).