Care Fees Means-Test Estimator
Estimate whether your local council is likely to contribute towards residential care costs based on savings, property, and income. Uses the England means-test thresholds.
Disclaimer — estimate only
About this tool — how it works
This estimator applies England’s care funding capital thresholds (a lower threshold of £14,250 and an upper threshold of £23,250) to your total capital, made up of savings and, where relevant, property value. If a partner, spouse, or dependant still lives in the property, it is disregarded entirely and only savings count. Capital above the upper threshold shows you as a self-funder; capital between the two thresholds shows the council as a possible part-funder, with a tariff income of £1 a week added for every complete £250 above the lower threshold; capital below the lower threshold shows the council as the likely funder, assessed against your weekly income (keeping a personal expenses allowance for you).
This is a simplified version of the real financial assessment. It does not apply every disregard that can reduce assessed capital, does not model deferred payment agreements that let you delay selling a property, and does not consider deprivation of assets rules affecting capital given away or spent before a claim. It covers England only — Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland run separate care funding systems with different thresholds.
Treat the result as an estimate of which funding band you are likely to fall into, not a decision. Councils carry out their own formal financial assessment, which can take other factors into account that this tool does not. Request that assessment from your local council and get independent financial advice before making decisions about care funding.
Frequently asked questions
How does the estimator decide who funds the care?
It adds your savings and investments to your property value (if it counts) to get total capital, then compares that to two England thresholds. Above the upper threshold you are shown as a self-funder; between the lower and upper thresholds the council may contribute but a weekly tariff income is added to your assessed income; below the lower threshold the council should fund your care, assessed on your weekly income.
When is my property left out of the calculation?
Only if you say a partner, spouse, or dependant still lives in it — the tool then disregards the property entirely and counts only your savings and other capital. If nobody meets that condition, the property value you enter is added to your capital.
How is the weekly tariff income worked out?
For every complete £250 of capital you hold above the lower threshold, the tool adds £1 a week to your assessed income — it works out the number of complete £250 units above the lower threshold and multiplies by £1. This only applies when your total capital sits between the two thresholds.
What does the estimator leave out?
It is a simplified capital-and-income check only. It does not apply all the disregards that can apply to specific types of capital, does not model deferred payment agreements, does not consider deprivation of assets rules, and covers England thresholds only. Always request a formal financial assessment from your council and get independent financial advice before making care funding decisions.