In the UK, live-in care cost a median of £230 a day (about £1,610 a week) at the end of September 2026 (Lottie Home Care Index). Your price depends on the level of need, whether it's for one person or a couple, and where you live. Most people pay privately, but in England the council may contribute if your savings are below £23,250, and the NHS pays in full if you qualify for NHS continuing healthcare.
Key facts
- UK live-in care median: £230/day ≈ £1,610/week, up 7.4% in a year (Lottie, rates at 30 Sept 2026).
- England means test 2026/27: upper capital limit £23,250, lower limit £14,250 (unchanged from last year).
- When care is provided at home, the value of your home is not counted in the council's financial assessment.
- Attendance Allowance 2026/27: £114.60 (higher) or £76.70 (lower) a week, not means-tested.
- Carer's Allowance 2026/27: £86.45 a week (earnings limit £204 a week).
What does live-in care cost in 2026?
At the end of September 2026 the median UK live-in care rate was £230 a day: about £1,610 a week, up 7.4% from £214 a day a year earlier (Lottie Home Care Index, Q3 2026). That figure comes from rates declared by 1,100 providers on Lottie's platform, so treat it as a guide rather than a fixed market price. For comparison, the median hourly home care rate was £33.49, and the average residential care home fee was £1,431 a week.
What affects the price?
- Level of need. Support with complex needs, frequent help at night or two-person tasks costs more than companionship and light personal care.
- One person or a couple. Supporting two people with one carer usually adds a smaller extra cost.
- Night-time help. If someone needs help most nights, an extra or waking night carer may be required.
- Location and travel. Prices vary by area and how easy it is to staff the package.
- Short-term or long-term. Respite and short placements can be priced differently from ongoing care.
What's included, and what isn't
| Usually included (managed service) | Usually extra / paid by the household |
|---|---|
| Assessment and written care plan | The carer's food while they live with you |
| A matched, trained carer | Household bills (heating, electricity, Wi-Fi) |
| Supervision, reviews and changes to the plan | Travel costs if the carer drives you |
| Replacement carers for holidays and illness | Extra carers for regular night-time or two-person care |
Ask every provider for a written breakdown so you can compare like with like.
Can the council help pay? (England)
First, ask your council for a free care needs assessment. If you have eligible needs, the council then does a financial assessment. For 2026/27 in England:
- Over £23,250 in savings and capital: you normally pay the full cost yourself (you can still ask the council to arrange care).
- Between £14,250 and £23,250: you contribute from your capital and income, and the council pays the rest of the eligible cost.
- Under £14,250: your capital is ignored, and you contribute from income only.
When you receive care at home, the value of the home you live in is disregarded. The council must also leave you a minimum amount of income to live on: the Minimum Income Guarantee, which for 2026/27 is £241.45 a week for a single person over Pension Credit age.
Councils usually fund care up to the amount they consider necessary to meet your assessed needs. If you choose live-in care that costs more, you may be asked to pay the difference.
Direct payments
If the council agrees to fund some or all of your care, you can ask for a direct payment instead of council-arranged services. You then choose and pay a provider yourself. A direct payment can be used towards live-in care if it meets your assessed needs, and you can add your own money on top.
NHS continuing healthcare
If your needs are mainly health needs (because of their nature, intensity, complexity or unpredictability) you may qualify for NHS continuing healthcare (CHC). The NHS then pays for the whole care package, and it can be provided at home. The bar is high: in Q3 2025-26, 19% of full standard assessments found the person eligible. There is a faster route for people whose condition is rapidly deteriorating at the end of life. Read our guide to NHS CHC at home.
Benefits that can help
- Attendance Allowance (State Pension age and over): £114.60 a week if you need help day and night, £76.70 if you need help during the day or night. It isn't means-tested and you don't need to have a carer already.
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for people under State Pension age: daily living component £114.60 (enhanced) or £76.70 (standard) a week.
- Carer's Allowance for a family carer providing at least 35 hours a week: £86.45 a week if they earn under £204 a week.
A free benefits check from Age UK, Citizens Advice or your council can make sure nothing is missed.
If you're paying privately
- Get a care needs assessment anyway: it sets out what support you need and helps if your savings later fall below £23,250.
- Tell the council when your savings approach the upper limit, so the financial assessment is in place in time.
- Consider independent financial advice from an adviser who specialises in later-life care (look for SOLLA accreditation).
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
The figures above apply to England. Charging rules and limits are different in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: check with your local council or health and social care trust.
Getting a price from Pinnacle
We price live-in care after we have assessed the person's needs, because the right level of support depends on the person. We'll give you a clear written breakdown of what is included. Pinnacle Caring Services is based in Chester and rated Good overall by the CQC (August 2025).
Frequently asked questions
What is included in the weekly price of live-in care?
With a managed service the weekly fee normally covers the carer, their training and supervision, care planning and reviews, and arranging replacement carers. You usually also provide the carer's food and a bedroom, and pay the household bills as normal. Ask for a written breakdown before you agree.
Is live-in care cheaper for couples?
Often. If one carer can safely support both people, the extra cost for a second person is usually much less than a second care home place. If both people need a lot of help at the same time, a second carer may be needed.
Will I have to sell my house to pay for live-in care?
Not because of care at home. When you receive care in your own home, the council does not count the value of the home you live in when it works out what you should pay. The rules are different if you move into a care home.
Can I use a direct payment for live-in care?
If the council assesses you as eligible for support, you can ask to receive the money as a direct payment and use it to buy care from a provider you choose, as long as it meets your assessed needs. Many people top up a direct payment with their own money for live-in care.
Does the NHS pay for live-in care?
Only if you are assessed as eligible for NHS continuing healthcare (CHC) because your needs are mainly health needs. Then the NHS funds your whole care package, which can be at home. Around one in five full assessments find someone eligible (NHS England, Q3 2025-26).
Sources
- Lottie: Home Care Index Q3 2026 (1,100 providers, rates declared by providers)
- GOV.UK: Social care charging for care and support 2026 to 2027 (17 February 2026)
- GOV.UK: Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027
- NHS England: NHS continuing healthcare
- NHS England: NHS CHC statistics Q3 2025-26
This guide is general information about care in England. It is not financial, legal or medical advice. Figures were checked on 25 October 2026 and can change.