Author and Publication
Author: Ben Slater, Registered Social Worker, Founder and Managing Director of Nellie Supports
Reviewed by: Kerry Slater, Director of Operations
Last reviewed: 20 July 2026
Citation
1. Department of Health and Social Care (2022) National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-framework-for-nhs-continuing-healthcare-and-nhs-funded-nursing-care
2. Care Act 2014, c. 23. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/23/contents
3. The Care and Support (Charging and Assessment of Resources) Regulations 2014, SI 2014/2672.
4. Department of Health and Social Care. Care and support statutory guidance. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-statutory-guidance
Copywright
Copyright © 2026 Nellie Supports Ltd. All rights reserved.
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This article does not constitute legal advice, clinical advice or a substitute for a decision-specific professional assessment. Where legislation, government guidance, court forms or external professional materials are referred to, those materials remain subject to their own copyright, licensing and re-use terms.
Abstract
This guide explains how the financial value of NHS Continuing Healthcare is determined. It covers the absence of a national tariff, the relationship between assessed need and the funded package, what full funding means in a care home and at home, why amounts vary between areas and individuals, the treatment of accommodation costs, and how the value compares with means tested local authority support.
How much is NHS Continuing Healthcare funding worth
There is no set amount for NHS Continuing Healthcare. It is not a benefit paid at a rate, it is the NHS meeting the full cost of the care a person has been assessed as needing. That makes the value entirely dependent on the assessed package.
There is no national rate
NHS Continuing Healthcare is not a fixed sum and there is no national tariff. Where a person is found eligible, the Integrated Care Board becomes responsible for meeting the full cost of the care that person has been assessed as needing, whether that care is provided in a care home, in their own home or elsewhere. The value therefore follows the package rather than a schedule.
What full funding means in a care home
Where someone eligible lives in a care home, the Board meets the full cost of the placement, including accommodation and living costs as well as the care itself. This is a significant point of difference from local authority support, where the person contributes according to their means. Nobody eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare should be paying care home fees or a top-up for the assessed placement.
What full funding means at home
Where care is delivered at home, the Board meets the cost of the assessed care package, which may include personal care, nursing input, equipment and specialist support. It does not meet ordinary living costs such as rent, mortgage, utilities or food, since those are not care costs. Packages at home can be substantial where needs require frequent or overnight support.
Why the value varies so widely
Two factors drive variation. The first is the level of need, since a package requiring two carers and waking night support costs far more than one requiring daily visits. The second is local market rates, which differ considerably across England. That is why comparing what another family receives is rarely useful, and why a figure quoted in one area may bear no relation to another.
Choice of setting and cost
The Board is responsible for meeting assessed needs, not for funding any placement the family prefers. Where a person wishes to move to a more expensive home that is not required to meet their needs, the Board is not obliged to fund the difference. Disputes about placement choice are common and are separate from the eligibility question, so it helps to keep the two apart.
Comparison with local authority support
Local authority care is means tested, so a person with capital above the threshold set by government may pay the whole cost themselves. NHS Continuing Healthcare is not means tested at all, so income, savings and property are irrelevant to both eligibility and value. The financial difference between the two routes is therefore often very large, which is why the eligibility question matters so much.
Personal health budgets
Someone eligible can request a personal health budget, which sets out the value of the assessed package and allows more control over how it is arranged, including through a direct payment in some circumstances. The budget reflects the cost of meeting assessed needs rather than an entitlement to a sum, and it does not change the eligibility position.
Backdating and reimbursement
Where a decision is delayed and the person is later found eligible, funding should generally be backdated to when the decision should have been made. Where care was paid for privately during that period, reimbursement should be addressed as part of the decision. Raise it explicitly rather than waiting for it to be offered.
Key takeaway
There is no fixed amount. Eligibility means the NHS meets the full cost of the assessed care package, including accommodation in a care home. Value follows need and local market rates, and it is not means tested in any respect.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a maximum amount of CHC funding?
No. The Board meets the cost of the care the person has been assessed as needing, so there is no ceiling as such. Cost may influence how needs are met, for example which provider is commissioned, but not whether they are met.
Does CHC cover care home accommodation costs?
Yes. Where an eligible person lives in a care home, the full cost of the placement is met, including accommodation and living costs. Nobody eligible should be paying fees or a top-up for the assessed placement.
Does it cover living costs at home?
No. It meets the cost of the assessed care package, not ordinary living costs such as rent, mortgage, utilities or food, which remain the person's own responsibility.
Related NHS Continuing Healthcare pages
These links take you to the most relevant Nellie Supports service page and to the supporting guides that explain the surrounding process.
Speak to an independent CHC specialist
Nellie Supports prepares independent needs evidence for NHS Continuing Healthcare assessments, reviews and appeals across England and Wales. Our reports are written by registered social workers on a permanent employed team, with internal peer review before release. Call 0333 987 5118 or send an enquiry and we will talk through where you are in the process.