NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is a package of care funded entirely by the NHS for adults whose main need arises from a health condition (rather than a social or personal care need). It is not means-tested: a person's savings, income, or property play no part in determining eligibility or the amount funded. CHC can cover care at home, in a care home, or in a nursing home. It is distinct from local authority social care, which is means-tested and only covers personal care needs. Many families discover CHC only after months of paying care costs they never needed to pay.

CHC eligibility is based on needs, not diagnosis. A person may qualify if their care requirements are primarily health-related (complex, unpredictable, or intense enough to establish what the NHS calls a 'primary health need'). The formal assessment process considers 12 areas of need across the Decision Support Tool. The most effective way to find out whether your parent qualifies is to speak to someone who knows the system (including the common reasons applications fail, and how to address them).

No. CHC is not means-tested. A person's savings, property, pension, or income play absolutely no part in CHC eligibility or in the amount of funding awarded. This is the most important distinction between CHC and local authority social care. If a person qualifies for CHC, the NHS pays for their assessed care in full (regardless of how much money they have). Families who have been told they must contribute financially to their loved one's care should clarify whether a CHC assessment has been carried out.

NHS Continuing Healthcare is funded entirely by the NHS and is not means-tested. Local authority social care is means-tested: your savings and assets determine how much you must contribute, and currently anyone with more than approximately £23,250 in savings is expected to pay in full. Social care covers personal care needs (washing, dressing, meals). CHC covers all care costs where the primary need is health-related. The same person may qualify for CHC and pay nothing (or be placed in social care and spend thousands of pounds a month). The distinction between the two is the basis of most CHC disputes.

Yes. CHC funding is available regardless of where a person lives. If a person qualifies, the NHS will fund their care at home (including visits from community nurses, personal carers, and specialist support) as well as in a care home or nursing home. Many families are unaware of this. If a loved one is currently being cared for at home and their needs are primarily health-related, a CHC assessment may well be appropriate, and CHC-funded home care may be an option worth exploring.