NHS-funded nursing care and your estate
FNC reduces the nursing slice of a care bill, but most of the cost of a care home is usually met by the resident or, after a financial assessment, the local authority. Where you fund your own care, the wider fees can draw down savings and, in some cases, involve the value of your home, which is why care costs feature in later-life planning. You can read more in our guide to Care Home Fees and how the means test works.
Some families ask whether giving away assets can keep fees down. Local authorities can look at whether assets have been given away deliberately to reduce a care contribution, known as deprivation of assets, and such transfers can be challenged and treated as though you still held them. Because of this, deliberately giving away assets to avoid care fees is not a reliable step, and planning here is about limiting and mitigating the impact of care costs within the rules rather than avoiding them. It can be worth discussing with a qualified professional, and this topic sits within our wider estate planning guide.
NHS-funded nursing care in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
This guide describes the position in England, where NHS-funded nursing care is paid at a national weekly rate (nhs.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change). The other UK nations run their own systems. Scotland provides separate payments towards personal and nursing care, Wales pays its own NHS-funded nursing care contribution, and Northern Ireland has its own arrangements through health and social care trusts. The rates and rules differ, so if care is arranged outside England it can be worth checking the local scheme.
Frequently asked questions
How much is NHS-funded nursing care per week?
The standard rate is £267.68 a week, paid to the care home towards registered nursing, with a higher rate of £368.24 a week for a small group placed on the old high band before October 2007 (nhs.uk, rates from 1 April 2026, as at July 2026, subject to change). The rate is set nationally and usually reviewed each April, so it can change.
Is NHS-funded nursing care means-tested?
No. NHS-funded nursing care is awarded on assessed nursing need, not on your income or savings, so it is not means-tested and applies whoever pays the rest of your fees (nhs.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change). The wider social-care fees can still be means-tested by your local authority, which is a separate assessment.
What is the difference between FNC and NHS continuing healthcare?
NHS continuing healthcare can fund a full care package for people with significant health needs, arranged and funded solely by the NHS. NHS-funded nursing care is narrower, covering only the registered-nursing element for people who do not meet the continuing healthcare threshold (nhs.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change). Continuing healthcare is generally considered first.
Can I get NHS-funded nursing care and Attendance Allowance?
These are different things. Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people who need help with personal care and is not means-tested, paid at £76.70 or £114.60 a week depending on need (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change). How it interacts with care funding depends on who pays for the care, so many people check their own position with a benefits adviser.
Do I have to pay for NHS-funded nursing care?
No, the FNC amount itself is paid by the NHS directly to the home and is not charged to you (nhs.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change). You or the local authority may still meet the rest of the care-home fees, which are separate from the nursing contribution, and those wider fees can be means-tested.
How do I apply for NHS-funded nursing care?
There is usually no separate application. You are generally assessed for NHS continuing healthcare first, and if that is not awarded but you need nursing in a care home, the integrated care board considers FNC (nhs.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change). You can ask for an assessment or a review if you think you may qualify or disagree with a decision.
About Fairchild Oldfield
The Fairchild Oldfield team brings together estate planning, tax, independent financial advice and client care, working with families across England and Wales.
Fairchild Oldfield are estate planning specialists and will writers, not a firm of solicitors. This article is general information based on practical experience, not legal, tax or financial advice.
Important: This article is general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Reading it does not create a professional relationship. It is based on the position in England, and other UK jurisdictions may differ. Figures and rules are current as at July 2026 and are subject to change. Before acting, many people choose to seek advice from a suitably qualified professional, such as a solicitor, a STEP practitioner, an accountant, an FCA-authorised financial adviser, or a benefits adviser, who can consider your individual circumstances.
