Self-funding in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The ONS self-funding statistics on this page cover England only, and the funding rules differ across the UK. Scotland provides free personal and nursing care for those assessed as needing it, which changes who counts as a self-funder. Wales and Northern Ireland operate their own means tests with their own capital limits. If care may cross more than one nation, it can be worth checking the local rules and taking advice in the relevant nation, because the England figures here will not carry across directly.
Sources and methodology
Every statistic on this page comes from a named official source and has been checked against that source. The two ONS releases estimate self-funding using data collected by the Care Quality Commission through its Provider Information Return, and both cover the period 1 March 2022 to 28 February 2023.
Figures are official statistics or government thresholds as published on the pages linked above. Thresholds are current as at July 2026 and subject to change. ONS estimates carry the coverage and rounding caveats set out in the source releases.
Frequently asked questions
How many people self-fund their care in the UK?
In England, about 37% of care home residents were self-funders in 2022 to 2023, which is 137,480 of 372,035 people, according to the ONS (2022 to 2023). In community care the figure was about 23% (ONS, community, 2022 to 2023). These estimates cover England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own systems.
What counts as a self-funder?
Broadly, a self-funder pays the full cost of their care rather than receiving council funding. In England a person with assessed capital above the upper limit of £23,250 is responsible for the full cost of care in a care home (gov.uk, 2026 to 2027, subject to change). Whether a home's value is counted depends on the circumstances.
Do self-funders pay more than council-funded residents?
Often, yes. The Competition and Markets Authority found self-pay fees were on average 41% higher than the fees councils paid in the same homes, a gap it put at around £236 a week (CMA, 2017). That study is several years old, so treat the exact figures as dated context rather than current prices.
Which parts of England have the most self-funders?
The share varies widely by region. In 2022 to 2023 the South East had the highest proportion of self-funders in care homes at 47.5%, and the North East the lowest at 26.4% (ONS, 2022 to 2023). Higher home ownership and property values generally sit behind that gap.
Can I give assets away to avoid care fees?
Deliberately reducing your assets to avoid a future care bill can be treated by a local authority as deprivation of assets and challenged, and there is no fixed time limit on how far back they can look. For that reason, planning generally focuses on understanding and limiting the impact of care costs within the rules rather than avoiding them, and many people choose to discuss it with a qualified professional first.
Do these figures apply across the whole UK?
No. The self-funding statistics here are ONS estimates for England only. Scotland provides free personal and nursing care for those assessed as needing it, and Wales and Northern Ireland set their own means-test capital limits. If your situation touches more than one UK nation, it can be worth checking the local rules, as the England figures will not carry across directly.
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 law and figures of England and Wales, and other UK jurisdictions may differ. Statistics are drawn from the named official sources above for the periods stated. Government thresholds 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, or an FCA-authorised financial adviser, who can consider their individual circumstances.
