NELLIE SUPPORTS
Answers to common questions about NHS Continuing Healthcare in England. These explain the process and Nellie's role; they do not determine an individual's eligibility. Use the linked guides for more detail.
CHC is ongoing care arranged and funded entirely by the NHS for an adult assessed as having a primary health need. It may be provided at home or in a care home. This page describes England's framework.
No. Eligibility depends on assessed needs, not savings, income or property. Local authority social care funding is a separate system with different rules.
The NHS considers the person's total needs through their nature, intensity, complexity and unpredictability. Diagnosis alone does not decide eligibility, and DST levels are not added up as a points total.
The Checklist is a screening tool with a deliberately low threshold for full assessment. A positive result requires full assessment; it does not itself award funding. A trained health or social care practitioner completes the screening.
A multidisciplinary team considers assessed needs across twelve care domains, the evidence and the person's or representative's contribution. It recommends whether there is a primary health need; the ICB makes the eligibility decision.
Request the written decision and reasons, check its review deadline and identify the relevant evidence. Local resolution with the ICB normally comes before an NHS England independent review request. A negative Checklist uses a reconsideration or complaints route instead.
There is no single end-to-end timetable. It depends on the stage, records, local resolution and whether independent review is needed. Distinguish the deadline for requesting review from the time the NHS takes to complete it.
No. The NHS decides eligibility. Nellie provides independent social work assessment, evidence and advocacy; a paid report or representative cannot guarantee funding.
No. Nellie Supports is an independent social work practice, not an SRA-regulated law firm. We explain the process and our professional role; a matter requiring a solicitor's advice or a reserved legal activity needs the appropriate legal professional.
No. Nellie's CHC work uses agreed fees rather than a percentage of funding or repayment. You can use NHS assessment and review processes without paying Nellie. Any private instruction should identify its scope and total fee before work begins.
A GOOD PLACE TO START
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