Nottinghamshire Care Funding: The Complete Guide
Care funding in Nottinghamshire depends on two assessments: a care needs assessment (to check you’re eligible for support) and a financial assessment or means test (to check how much you contribute). If your capital is above £23,250, you’ll usually need to self-fund. Below £14,250, only your income is assessed. Between the two, you contribute on a sliding scale.
Nottinghamshire County Council’s Adult Social Care team can be reached on 0300 500 80 80. This guide brings together everything you need to understand funding for care homes, home care, and dementia care across Nottinghamshire, and links through to detailed guides on each topic.
How Care Funding Works in Nottinghamshire
Getting funding support for care, whether in a care home or at home, involves two separate steps.
- A care needs assessment, which checks whether your needs meet the national eligibility threshold for support
- A financial assessment (means test), which checks how much you can afford to contribute towards your care
You need to pass both to receive local authority funding. Passing the needs assessment alone doesn’t guarantee funding if your finances are above the threshold, and having low savings doesn’t guarantee funding if your needs don’t meet the eligibility bar.
Start the funding conversation with Nottinghamshire County Council well before your savings reach the upper threshold. Financial assessments and care planning can take time, and starting early avoids gaps in support.
Step 1: The Care Needs Assessment
Nottinghamshire County Council uses the national eligibility criteria set out in the Care Act 2014. Broadly, you’re likely to be eligible if:
- Your needs arise from a physical or mental impairment or illness
- As a result, you’re unable to achieve two or more specified daily living tasks (such as washing, dressing, eating, or managing medication)
- This has, or is likely to have, a significant impact on your wellbeing
To request an assessment:
- Call the Adult Social Care Contact Centre on 0300 500 80 80 (Monday to Thursday, 8:30am–5pm; Friday, 8:30am–4:30pm)
- Or complete the online self-referral form on the council’s website
A social worker or assessor will usually meet with your family member, either at home or in hospital if they’re awaiting discharge. Family members are welcome to take part in this assessment.
Read our full guide: Understanding care needs assessments.
Step 2: The Financial Assessment (Means Test)
If the needs assessment confirms eligibility, Nottinghamshire’s Financial Assessment Team will complete a means test based on your income, savings, and, where relevant, property.
| Capital held | What happens |
| Above £23,250 | You’re not eligible for local authority funding; you self-fund in full |
| Between £14,250 and £23,250 | You contribute towards costs from income and savings, on a sliding scale |
| Below £14,250 | Only your income is assessed; capital isn’t taken into account |
Nottinghamshire County Council provides a Care Contribution Calculator to give an indicative figure, though this isn’t a confirmed amount.
A note on the family home: your home is usually only included in the financial assessment if you’re moving into a care home permanently, and only if your spouse, partner, or certain other dependants don’t continue to live there.
A note on deprivation of assets: Nottinghamshire County Council, like all local authorities, checks for evidence of deliberately reducing capital to qualify for funding. Giving away money or property shortly before applying can result in the council treating it as if you still owned it.
Funding Care Homes in Nottinghamshire
If you’re moving into residential or nursing care, funding routes include:
- Self-funding, if your capital is above £23,250
- Local authority funding, if you meet both the needs and financial thresholds
- NHS Continuing Healthcare, for those with significant, primarily health-related needs
- A Deferred Payment Agreement, allowing the council to cover costs upfront and recover them later from your estate or the sale of your property
Related guides:
- Paying for care homes in Mansfield: local authority funding and support
- Funding for nursing homes: understanding your options
- Care home top-up fees
- Are next of kin responsible for care home fees?
- How moving into a care home affects your pension
Funding Home Care in Nottinghamshire
Local authority funding isn’t limited to care homes. Nottinghamshire County Council also funds home care for eligible residents who want to remain in their own home. The same two-step process applies: a needs assessment followed by a financial assessment.
Funding can be provided as:
- Direct payments, paid to you so you can arrange and manage your own care
- Commissioned services, where the council arranges care on your behalf
Related guides:
- Is home care means-tested?
- How to get funding for home care
- Do the NHS pay for care at home?
- How much does home care cost?
Funding Dementia Care
Dementia care can be funded through the same routes as other residential or home care, though NHS Continuing Healthcare may apply more often where health needs are complex.
Related guide: Is care for dementia patients free? Understanding funding options for dementia care
Hospital Discharge and Funding
If your family member is in hospital, Nottinghamshire operates a Discharge to Assess (D2A) pathway. This allows someone to move into a care home temporarily, or receive short-term home support, whilst the full needs and financial assessments are completed, helping to avoid a delayed discharge.
Read our guide: Hospital discharge to a care home.
What You’ll Need for a Financial Assessment
Being prepared can speed up the process. You’ll typically need to provide:
- Details of income, including pensions and benefits
- Bank statements and savings account details
- Information on any investments
- Property ownership details, if relevant
- Details of any existing debts or outgoings
You, a family member, or a friend can complete the financial assessment form together, or Nottinghamshire County Council can arrange a visit to complete it with you.
Getting Independent Advice
Nottinghamshire County Council strongly recommends seeking independent financial advice when making decisions about paying for care, particularly around deferred payment agreements, property, and long-term planning. Age UK also offers free, confidential advice on paying for long-term care and choosing a care home or home care service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the savings threshold for care funding in Nottinghamshire? The upper threshold is £23,250. Above this, you’re expected to self-fund. Below £14,250, only your income is assessed, not your savings.
How do I request a care needs assessment in Nottinghamshire? Call Nottinghamshire County Council’s Adult Social Care Contact Centre on 0300 500 80 80, or complete the online self-referral form on their website.
Does Nottinghamshire County Council fund home care as well as care homes? Yes. The same needs and financial assessment process applies to home care as to residential care, and support can be given as direct payments or commissioned services.
Will my home be included in the financial assessment? Only if you’re moving into permanent residential care and no qualifying relative continues to live there. Your home isn’t counted if you remain living in it or if a spouse or dependant stays there.
How long does the funding process take? This varies, but starting the conversation with social services before your savings approach the threshold, and gathering financial documents in advance, will help avoid delays.
How Lidder Care Can Help
Understanding funding can feel overwhelming, particularly during a stressful or fast-moving time. At Lidder Care, we’ve supported many Nottinghamshire families through this process and are happy to talk through your situation, whether you’re self-funding, applying for local authority support, or unsure where to start.
Care Homes:
- Newgate Lodge Care Home in Mansfield
- Lowmoor Nursing Home in Mansfield
Home Care Services: Available across Mansfield and Nottinghamshire.
Contact us: Phone: 01623 622 322 Visit our contact page
This guide is intended as general information and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Thresholds, rates, and eligibility rules can change, so we’d always recommend confirming current figures directly with Nottinghamshire County Council or an independent financial adviser.
Manjas is the Managing Director of Lidder Care, overseeing all aspects of the group’s operations with a focus on long-term strategic goals. His connection to care began at an early age, working as a night carer at Lowmoor Nursing Home while still in school. This experience fostered a deep personal and professional commitment to delivering high-quality, person-centred care.
After completing an Accounting degree, Manjas established a successful career in media and property development, founding Film AM, PKL Investments, and The Stay Company. This expertise now allows Lidder Care to offer bespoke solutions through in-house design and construction capabilities.
Manjas’ early experiences in care continue to inspire his dedication to providing excellent care, investing in staff, services, and new technologies to enhance Lidder Care’s offerings.