How to access care in the UK: a complete guide for families

If you have recently realised that a parent, relative, or loved one needs more support at home, you are probably feeling a mix of emotions: worry, uncertainty, and perhaps a little lost about where to even begin. The care system in the UK is complex, fragmented, and often not well explained, but once you understand the steps, it becomes far more manageable.

This guide walks you through the full process from beginning to end.

Step 1: Recognise what kind of support is needed

Care needs vary enormously. Some people need help with practical daily tasks, cooking, cleaning, shopping, getting washed and dressed. Others need support with medication, mobility, or managing a condition such as dementia, Parkinson's, or a physical disability. Some need companionship as much as anything else.

Before contacting anyone, it helps to spend some time observing and reflecting. What tasks are becoming difficult? What does a typical day look like for your loved one? What are they managing well and where are they struggling? Write it down, it will help in every conversation that follows.

Step 2: Request a needs assessment from your local council

In England, anyone who appears to have care and support needs has a legal right to a needs assessment, free of charge, from their local council. You do not need a GP referral. You can contact the adult social care team at your local council directly.

The assessment is carried out by a social worker or care assessor. It looks at what the person can and cannot do, how this affects their wellbeing, and what outcomes they want to achieve. The person being assessed should be at the centre of the conversation, their voice matters most.

Family members or carers can be present and can also request a separate carer's assessment for themselves, which looks at their own wellbeing and support needs.

Following the assessment, the council will determine whether the person has eligible needs under the Care Act 2014. If they do, they will then carry out a means test to assess what financial contribution the council will make.

Step 3: Understand the financial assessment (means test)

The means test looks at savings, income, and in some cases property. In England (thresholds differ slightly in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland):

If a person has assets above £23,250, they are currently expected to meet the full cost of their care. If assets are between £14,250 and £23,250, they contribute a portion. If assets are below £14,250, the council funds care in full (subject to the person's income contribution).

Importantly, the family home is not counted in the means test if a partner, dependent child, or certain other relatives still live there.

This is a complicated area and many families benefit from speaking with a specialist financial adviser who understands care funding. Age UK and Carers UK both offer free guidance.

Step 4: Explore your funding options

Even if the council does not fund care, there are other potential sources of funding:

Attendance Allowance, a benefit for people over 65 who need help with personal care due to illness or disability. It is not means-tested and does not depend on National Insurance contributions. There are two rates depending on the level of need. Many families are unaware their relative qualifies.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP), for people under 65 with a long-term health condition or disability.

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is fully funded care paid for by the NHS for people with a primary health need. This is not means-tested. It is often underused because families and professionals are not always aware of it. If your relative has complex, ongoing health needs, it is worth asking for a CHC assessment.

Veterans' benefits, if your relative served in the armed forces, there may be additional entitlements through the Veterans' Welfare Service.

Charity funding, various charities offer grants for people with specific conditions (e.g. MS Society, Alzheimer's Society, Macmillan). These are worth researching.

Step 5: Choose between council-arranged care and direct payments

If the council agrees to fund some or all of the care, you have a choice. You can ask the council to arrange the care on your behalf, or you can request a direct payment, a sum of money paid to you or your relative to purchase care independently.

Direct payments give far more choice and control, allowing families to choose their own carers, set their own schedules, and use platforms like Hibant to find high-quality self-employed carers at transparent rates. Many families find that direct payments stretch further and deliver better care than the council-arranged alternative.

Step 6: Find and arrange the care

Once you know what you need and how it will be funded, you can start finding the right carer. There are broadly three options:

A care agency manages everything for you, but costs more because of agency fees and commission. You often have little say over which carer visits.

An introductory agency like Hibant introduces you to vetted, self-employed carers. You agree the arrangement directly with the carer. Costs are lower, continuity is higher, and the relationship is more personal.

Direct employment means hiring a carer as an employee. This gives maximum control but also comes with employer responsibilities including PAYE, National Insurance, and employer liability insurance.

Step 7: Set up the care properly

Once you have found a carer, take time to set things up well. A good pre-visit briefing, a clear care plan, and open communication make an enormous difference. Be honest about needs, routines, preferences, and anything the carer needs to know before entering the home.

Review regularly. Needs change, and a care arrangement should be revisited every few months to make sure it is still working well for everyone.

If you are ever unhappy with the care or the arrangement, you have the right to change. A good carer or platform will support this process, not obstruct it.