Paying for care in a residential or nursing care home

This includes income from pension payments, investments, ISAs, bonds, and benefits. Earnings from paid work are not included.

Some income is fully or partially protected, but you must declare everything to ensure your contributions are worked out accurately.

Examples of income which might be protected are: 

• Earnings from employment or self-employment 
• The mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Income from war pensions, including war widow's pensions and war disablement pension 
• 50% of any occupational pension you receive if you are one of a couple - unless you both receive care and support services from Suffolk County Council. 

This includes investments, property, land, savings and bonds and cash savings.

Unlike non-residential care services, we will include the value of the property that you own and live in when assessing your capital. There are some circumstances where your property will be ignored, such as if your spouse is still living there.

If you have moved from the property you own into a residential or nursing home, the value of your property may be ignored for the first 12 weeks of your stay in a residential or nursing home. This called a 12-week property disregard, and it is to give you time to plan how you will fund your long-term care.

Eligibility applies only if capital is below £23,250, or for a shorter period if capital is close to that threshold. 

You will still be charged according to income and savings within the first 12 weeks.

If you have a partner, 50% of any joint savings will count.

The Department of Health and Social Care sets the minimum amount of money you must be left with to cover personal items such as newspapers and haircuts.

This is called the Personal Expenses Allowance (PEA), and it is £30.65 per week in 2025-2026.