Care and support

What happens to my benefits when I enter a care home?

The following information tells you what benefits you may be entitled to if you are:

• contributing towards the cost of your care or
• paying the full cost of your care

Some benefits are not affected by being in a care home (though they will usually count as income when the local authority assesses your contribution – see above). You can continue to receive the following benefits when you enter a care home either on a temporary or permanent basis:

• state pension
• the mobility part of disability living allowance
• incapacity benefit (employment and support allowance from October 2008)
• severe disablement allowance
• bereavement allowance
• widowed parent’s allowance
• widowed mother’s allowance
• widow’s pension
• working tax credit
• child tax credit (if you continue to be responsible for a child)

The benefits which may be affected are:

• attendance allowance
• carers allowance
• income support
• winter fuel payments
• disability living allowance – care part
• pension credit
• housing benefit
• council tax benefit