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. Department of Health and Social Care. Care and support statutory guidance. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-statutory-guidance
4. The Care and Support (Charging and Assessment of Resources) Regulations 2014, SI 2014/2672.
Copywright
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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 what happens to NHS Continuing Healthcare funding when a person moves to a different area. It covers which Integrated Care Board holds responsibility, the effect of GP registration, out of area placements, the reassessment that often follows a move, the risk of funding being reconsidered, and how to plan a move without losing continuity.
What happens to CHC funding if you move area
Moving area does not end NHS Continuing Healthcare eligibility, but it does raise the question of which Integrated Care Board is responsible, and it frequently triggers a review. Both are worth planning for rather than discovering afterwards.
Eligibility travels with the person
An eligibility decision is not tied to an address. A person found eligible remains eligible on moving, and funding should continue without interruption. What changes is which body is responsible for commissioning and paying for the care, and the practical arrangements that follow from that.
Which Board is responsible
Responsibility generally follows GP registration. Where a person moves and registers with a new GP, responsibility usually transfers to the Board covering that area. There are exceptions, particularly for out of area placements, and the rules are more involved than they first appear, so ask both Boards to confirm the position in writing.
Out of area placements
Where a Board funds a placement in another area, it generally retains responsibility rather than passing it to the Board where the home is located. This matters because families sometimes assume the local Board is responsible simply because the person lives there. If you are unsure, ask which Board is the responsible commissioner.
Transfers between Boards
A transfer should be planned rather than left to happen. The two Boards should communicate, the receiving Board should have the assessment documentation, and funding should continue throughout. In practice transfers are a common source of delay and confusion, so start the conversation well before the move.
The reassessment risk
A move frequently triggers a review, and a review is where funding is most often lost. The risk is the usual one: a person stable under a good package can be recorded as having reduced needs. Prepare for a post-move review as you would for a first assessment, and be alert to the well-managed need principle.
Planning a move
Notify the current Board early, ask which Board will become responsible and when, ask for confirmation that funding continues through the transition, and ask whether a review is planned. Get the answers in writing. Where the move is into a different setting as well as a different area, expect both questions to arise at once.
Key takeaway
Eligibility moves with the person, but responsibility usually follows GP registration and out of area placements often stay with the funding Board. Plan the transfer in writing and prepare for the review that frequently follows a move.
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Frequently asked questions
Does CHC funding stop if we move?
No. Eligibility is not tied to an address and funding should continue without interruption. What changes is which Integrated Care Board is responsible for commissioning and paying.
Which Board becomes responsible?
Responsibility generally follows GP registration, so registering with a new GP usually transfers it. There are exceptions, particularly for out of area placements, so ask both Boards to confirm in writing.
What about an out of area placement?
Where a Board funds a placement in another area, it generally retains responsibility rather than passing it to the local Board. Ask which Board is the responsible commissioner if you are unsure.
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.