Benefits You Can Claim in a Care Home (2026)

Claire Saltwater26 August 2026

Many families miss out on benefits that could ease the cost of care. Some are means-tested, some aren't — and moving into a care home can change what you're entitled to, so it's worth a proper check.

Benefits worth checking

Attendance Allowance has two rates depending on how much help you need.

How a move affects benefits

If the council fully funds care, some benefits like Attendance Allowance may stop.

A free benefits check from Age UK, Citizens Advice or the council often uncovers money people didn’t know they could claim.

💬 Find the right care near you. Search the AskBart directory for homes, ratings and guide prices — or ask Bart for help.

Frequently asked questions

Can I claim Attendance Allowance in a care home?

If you pay your own fees, usually yes. If the local authority funds your care, it generally stops.

Do benefits count in the means test?

Most income, including many benefits, is counted — but some disability benefits are disregarded.

Claire Saltwater

Editor · AskBart

Claire Saltwater is AskBart's Editor and a care-home industry veteran. One of AskBart's earliest team members, she has spent years working in and around social care — so she understands first-hand the difficult, often overwhelming decisions families face when choosing a care home. Claire writes and edits AskBart's advice guides with one goal: clear, genuinely independent information, free of jargon and sales pressure. Away from her desk she loves a good farmers' market and time with her two young children.