Factsheet: Care home top-up payments

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Summary

April 2026

This factsheet explains how someone can pay extra money, so you can live in your choice of care home.

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If you need care in a care home or nursing home

When we do your support plan, we will allocate an amount of money to pay for your care and support. This is called a ‘personal budget’. We will try to offer you at least one care home within this budget.

If you turn this down and choose a care home that costs more than your budget, someone will have to pay the extra money. We call this a ‘top-up payment’. It is the difference between your personal budget and the care home fee.

You will also pay your weekly contribution towards your care and support. For more information about paying for your care, see our leaflet What you will need to pay

Who can pay a top-up payment?

Top-ups are usually paid by a family member, friend or charity. The money used must not belong to you (the person living in the care home).

You can only pay your own top-up in these circumstances:

During the first 12 weeks you live in a care home (if you are a homeowner). This is called a ‘12-week property disregard’.
If you receive a loan to pay for care home fees through the Deferred Payment Agreement scheme.
If you are receiving free aftercare under S117 of the Mental Health Act.

For more information, read our factsheet Financial assessments for residential care

Arranging a top-up payment

To set up a top-up payment for the first time, we will check if the person paying it can afford it.

We will send them an application form and an agreement form. We will ask for proof of their income, savings and expenses. They must agree to pay the top-up for the duration of your stay in the care home.

They will usually pay the top-up to the Council. We then pay the care home the full fee.

The top-up must be paid regularly and on time. If we do not receive payment, you may need to move out of the care home.

You will still pay your ‘contribution’ towards your care costs directly to the care home.

The top-up agreement

The agreement will include:

the top-up payment amount
the personal budget amount
how often payments must be made
who to pay
how the arrangement will be reviewed
what happens if somebody cannot keep up with payments
the effect of any increases in fees made by the care home
the effect of any changes in somebody's financial circumstances

Changes to fees

The Council pays a set rate for care homes. This usually changes on the first Monday of the tax year in April. The Council and the care home sign a contract. This means that the Council must agree any changes to fees following a set process.

We will review your personal budget regularly. It may increase if it is not enough to meet your assessed care needs.

The top-up amount may change when the care home reviews their fees. We will contact you each year about any changes to fees.

If someone cannot pay the top-up

If somebody paying the top-up can no longer afford it, the person living in the care home may have to move. This could be to another room in the care home, or another place within your personal budget limit.

You will have a Care Act needs assessment or review, to ensure that the new accommodation is suitable.