Top-up fees

Part of: Paying for residential and nursing care

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If you choose a care home that costs more than the Council’s agreed framework price, the extra amount is called a ‘top-up’ fee. 

Under the Care Act 2014, you cannot pay this top-up yourself if you have less than £23,250 in savings, capital, or property value. 

In this situation, you can: 

  • Negotiate a lower fee with the care home so it matches the Council’s rate, or
  • Arrange a third party (such as a relative, friend, or charity) to pay on your behalf

We need to be certain that whoever is paying your top-up has sufficient funds or assets to continue paying for as long as you need.

Third party 'top-up'

If a third party agrees to pay your top-up fee, they will need to sign a contract. The contract will agree that they will make the payments for as long as you need. 

Before any arrangements are finalised, an agreement must be in place between all three parties: 

  • The Council
  • The care home
  • The person or organisation paying the top-up 

This agreement must be completed before any contract is signed. 

When you can pay your own 'top-up'

In most cases, you cannot use your own savings to pay a top-up. However there are some exceptions.

You can pay your own top-up if:

  • You own a property and it is being disregarded for the first 12 weeks after you have entered into a care home. In these cases the top-up is chargeable from day 1. There is no disregard for the top-up payment during this period.
  • If you are part of the Deferred Payments Scheme and it has been agreed that we will pay the cost of your accommodation including the 'top-up', which will be recovered when your property is sold.