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Am I Eligible for NHS CHC? Get an Expert Eligibility Review

Not sure if your relative qualifies for NHS Continuing Healthcare? Our CHC Eligibility Review gives you an honest, expert assessment of whether to proceed with a claim—before you commit to the full DST process.

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This consultation reviews your relative's care needs across the 12 care domains and provides an informed indication of eligibility for a primary health need. It's designed for families who want clarity early, without the cost and complexity of a full CHC assessment.

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What Is the NHS CHC Eligibility Review?

An in-depth consultation with one of our qualified solicitor to determine whether your relative may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding.

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During the review, we will:

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  • Discuss your relative's care needs in detail – covering physical, cognitive, behavioural, and psychological needs

  • Review the 12 CHC care domains – including breathing, mobility, cognition, behaviour, nutrition, and continence

  • Assess whether a "primary health need" may be present – based on the nature, intensity, complexity, and unpredictability of care needs

  • Provide an honest, reasoned opinion on whether a CHC claim is viable

  • Explain your next steps – whether that's requesting a CHC checklist, gathering evidence, or exploring alternative funding options

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This is not a tick-box exercise. It's a conversation about your relative's care needs, the realities of the CHC process, and whether pursuing a claim is the right decision for your family.

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Cost: £450 + VAT

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Optional add-on: A formal care needs assessment and prospective CHC checklist completed by a qualified social worker or psychologist – £496 + VAT*. This checklist can be submitted to your GP, Social Worker, Care Home or ICB to ensure a formal checklist is completed. 

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A joyful older woman with short blonde hair and glasses is warmly embraced by a younger man in a light blue shirt. Both are smiling broadly, standing in a sunlit kitchen with warm wood and white tones. The moment conveys comfort, reassurance, and the restored relationships that can follow a fair resolution supported by a retrospective mental capacity assessment.

Travel Charges

All travel undertaken as part of service delivery is chargeable at £40 per hour. This includes time spent travelling to and from appointments, meetings, or assessments. Travel time is calculated based on the most efficient reasonable route.

Should I Apply for NHS Continuing Healthcare? Who Is This Service For?

This review is for families who:

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  • Have not yet had a DST (Decision Support Tool) assessment – This is a pre-assessment service only

  • Want to know if a CHC claim is realistic before investing time, money, and emotional energy

  • Need expert guidance on the 12 care domains and whether their relative's needs meet the threshold for a primary health need

  • Are unsure whether to request a CHC checklist from their ICB or local authority

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This service is not suitable if:

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Book Your NHS CHC
Consultation

Gain Clarity and Confidence Before You Begin Your CHC Journey

Navigating NHS Continuing Healthcare can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re preparing to apply, waiting for an assessment, or questioning a decision, our consultation gives you direct access to a solicitor specialising in CHC. 

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15-Minute Free Consultation:

  • Brief phone or online call with a member of our team

  • Initial discussion of your situation

  • Guidance on which service is right for you

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1-Hour CHC Consultation (£[price] + VAT):

  • One-hour consultation (online or phone) with one of our qualified social workers or psychologists

  • Advice tailored to your stage in the CHC process

  • Clear explanation of eligibility and next steps

  • Guidance on evidence and documentation

  • A written summary of advice after the session

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90-Minute CHC Eligibility Review (£450 + VAT):

  • In-depth consultation with our in-house solicitor

  • Detailed review of your relative's care needs across the 12 CHC care domains

  • Assessment of whether a "primary health need" may be present

  • Honest, reasoned opinion on whether a CHC claim is viable

  • Clear guidance on next steps, whether to proceed, gather evidence, or explore alternatives

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We also provide mental capacity assessments for a variety of decisions including COP3 assessments and LPA capacity assessments. For complex cases, our advanced mental capacity assessment service provides comprehensive support. If you need assistance with NHS Continuing Healthcare appeals or care funding disputes, we can help
 

Expert Insights on
NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)

Explore our articles on CHC applications and appeals, with practical guidance, real-world examples, and expert insights. Written to help families, solicitors, and deputies better understand the process and feel more confident at every stage.

Your Continuing Health Care Questions Answered

  • NHS Continuing Healthcare is a package of care that is fully funded by the NHS for people with significant ongoing health needs. It covers the full cost of care at home, in a care home, or in a hospice.

  • No. Unlike social care provided by local authorities, CHC is not means-tested. Your savings, income, or whether you own your home does not affect eligibility.

  • You must be assessed as having a primary health need, using the NHS Decision Support Tool (DST). This means your needs are mainly for healthcare, rather than social care.

  • The checklist is an initial screening tool to decide whether a full CHC assessment is needed. If the checklist indicates eligibility, you move on to the Decision Support Tool (DST) meeting.

  • A DST meeting (also called a Multidisciplinary Team meeting) is where health and social care professionals assess your relative's needs in 12 "care domains." Their recommendation goes to the ICB (England) or LHB (Wales).

  • You have six months from the decision letter to appeal. The first stage is a Local Resolution with your ICB or LHB. If unsuccessful, you can escalate to an Independent Review Panel (IRP).

  • Timelines vary. Local Resolution appeals should take around 3 months, with IRPs within another 3 months. In practice, delays are common, and cases may take many months to resolve.

  • No, we cannot guarantee that you will receive NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) funding and no provider can. Funding decisions are made by the NHS against national criteria set out in the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care.

  • No. Nellie Supports is not a law firm and is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). However, our CHC services are solicitor-led, meaning an experienced solicitor oversees your case. This ensures you benefit from both legal expertise and multidisciplinary input, while fees remain transparent and fixed.

  • No. Nellie Supports does not offer no-win-no-fee arrangements. We believe this model can create uncertainty for families. Instead, we provide all our CHC services on fixed fees, inclusive of VAT, so you always know the cost in advance with no hidden charges.

  • Our CHC services are priced transparently and fixed, so you always know the cost upfront. Prices range from £250 for an initial consultation to £9,000+ for full appeal representation. Each service has a clear, fixed price with no hidden fees or surprise charges.

    You can view our full pricing on our services section above, or book a free 15-minute call to discuss which service is right for your situation.

  • Strong evidence is crucial to a successful appeal. This typically includes:

    • Medical records and health assessments

    • Social care assessments and reports

    • Medication lists and prescriptions

    • Care needs documentation

    • Letters from healthcare professionals (GP, consultant, nurse)

    • Photographs or videos showing care needs (if appropriate)

    • Diary entries documenting daily care requirements

    • Previous DST assessments or decision letters

    We can guide you on what evidence matters most for your case and help you gather and present it effectively. This is part of our consultation and appeal services.

  • We offer both options. Most of our CHC appeal support can be conducted remotely via phone or video call, which is convenient if you're unable to travel or prefer to stay at home.

    For DST meetings and some appeal hearings, face-to-face representation may be more effective. We can discuss which approach is best for your situation during your initial consultation.

    Travel is available nationwide across England and Wales. If you need us to attend meetings in person, we charge £40 per hour for travel time.

  • Our team includes:

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    • Registered Social Workers (qualified, registered with Social Work England)

    • Chartered Psychologists (HCPC registered)

    • SRA-Regulated Solicitor (professional legal representation)

    • Healthcare Specialists (including a forensic scientist for complex cases)

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    All team members have extensive experience in mental capacity assessments, social work, psychology, and legal representation. We're not just legally qualified; we understand care complexity from multiple professional angles.

  • If your appeal is unsuccessful at one stage, you have the option to escalate to the next stage:

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    • If Local Resolution is unsuccessful, you can request an Independent Review Panel (IRP) hearing

    • If the IRP upholds the decision, you can escalate to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO)

     

    We can advise whether escalation is realistic for your case and support you through the next stage if you choose to continue. We're honest about what's achievable, so you can make informed decisions about next steps.

  • Our initial consultation is one hour and costs £250 + VAT. During this time, we will:

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    • Review your situation in detail

    • Explain the CHC process in plain English

    • Discuss your options at each stage

    • Provide tailored advice based on your circumstances

    • Explain what evidence matters

    • Outline next steps and realistic timelines

    • Answer all your questions

     

    You'll leave with a clear understanding of your position and practical next steps. There's no obligation to proceed with further services after the consultation.

  • Yes. The CHC appeals process has three stages:

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    1. Local Resolution - First appeal to your ICB/LHB (typically 3 months)

    2. Independent Review Panel (IRP) - If Local Resolution is unsuccessful (typically 3 months)

    3. Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) - If IRP is unsuccessful (typically 2-3 months)

     

    Not every case needs to go through all three stages. Many are resolved at Local Resolution with the right support and evidence. We can advise which stage is appropriate for your situation.

  • Initial CHC Consultation (£250 + VAT):

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    • One-hour expert review

    • Plain English explanation of the CHC process

    • Tailored advice on your options

    • Guidance on evidence and documentation

    • Written summary of recommendations

     

    CHC Checklist Support (£495 + VAT):

    • Comprehensive care needs assessment

    • Prospective CHC Checklist completion

    • Evidence-based documentation

    • Professional recommendations on eligibility

     

    DST Representation (£2,000 + VAT):

    • Preparation for DST meeting

    • Evidence review

    • Professional representation at the meeting

    • Legal precision and care expertise combined

     

    CHC Decision Review (£2,000 + VAT):

    • Comprehensive review of your decision letter

    • Identification of errors or gaps

    • Written opinion on grounds for appeal

    • Guidance on next steps

     

    Appeal Stage One - Local Resolution (£8,000 + VAT):

    • Full representation through the appeals process

    • Evidence gathering and analysis

    • Written submissions

    • Negotiation with your ICB/LHB

     

    Appeal Stage Two - IRP Representation (£9,000 + VAT):

    • Professional representation at IRP hearing

    • Expert advocacy

    • Written submissions

    • Cross-examination support

     

    Appeal Stage Three - Ombudsman Support (£8,000+ + VAT):

    • Representation through Ombudsman process

    • Complaint documentation

    • Liaison with the Ombudsman

  • We're not a traditional law firm. We're a multidisciplinary team that combines legal expertise with social work and psychology.

    This means:

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    • You get legal representation (our SRA-regulated solicitor)

    • Plus care expertise (our registered social workers and psychologists)

    • Plus understanding of the person behind the decision (not just the legal framework)

     

    Traditional solicitors focus on legal arguments. We focus on both legal precision and genuine care insight. This integrated approach often leads to better outcomes because we understand both the law and the care complexity.

    Our fixed pricing also means you know the cost upfront, unlike many law firms which charge hourly rates.

  • Yes, completely. We're an independent professional practice, not part of the NHS system. This means:

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    • We can provide objective assessment and guidance

    • We're not constrained by NHS institutional bias

    • We can identify gaps in how your case was assessed

    • We can provide honest professional opinion focused on your family's interests

     

    Our independence is one of our key strengths. We're here to advocate for your loved one's needs, not to defend NHS decisions.

  • Getting started is simple:

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    1. Book a free 15-minute call - Talk through your situation with no obligation

    2. Arrange a consultation (£250 + VAT) - Detailed review and tailored advice

    3. Choose a service - Based on your needs and our recommendations

    4. We support you - Through every stage of your journey

     

    You can book online, call us on 0333 987 5118, or email Nellie@nelliesupports.com.

  • We understand that families facing CHC funding issues may be under financial strain. Here's what we recommend:

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    1. Start with a free 15-minute call - Discuss your situation at no cost

    2. Consider our Initial Consultation (£250 + VAT) - This gives you expert guidance on whether an appeal is realistic before committing to full services

    3. Explore our Nellie+ plans - We offer monthly support plans (£39, £199, £399) that include free initial assessments and CHC checklists

     

    If cost is a concern, discuss this during your free call. We can help you understand your options and what's realistic for your situation.

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