Last updated:
15th July 2026
When a care home costs more
If you choose a care home that costs more than the amount the council would usually pay, an extra payment may be needed. This is called a top up payment.
Can someone else pay the top-up?
What you need to know
A top-up payment is an extra payment on top of:
- the amount the council pays towards your care
- the amount you have been assessed to pay yourself
The person paying the top-up must:
- be able to afford the payments for as long as they are needed
- provide details of their income, savings and regular living costs
- sign an agreement with the council
If the top-up payments stop
If the top-up payments stop, you may need to move to a more affordable care home.
Things to think about
Before someone agrees to pay a top-up for you, it's important to think about:
- whether you can afford the payments for the long term
- whether care home fees might increase in the future
- whether the top-up amount could increase over time
- what would happen if the payments had to stop
When you can pay the extra cost yourself
In some situations, you may be able to pay the extra cost yourself.
This is usually only possible if:
- you own a property and have a Deferred Payment Agreement (DPA) with the council, which allows some costs to be paid later, usually when your property is sold - read further information on Deferred Payment Agreements.
- you receive care under Section 117 aftercare following treatment under the Mental Health Act
In most other situations, you cannot pay the extra cost yourself from your income or savings.
What you need to know
Any extra payment you make is on top of:
- the amount the council pays towards your care
- the amount you have been assessed to pay yourself
Before agreeing to pay the extra cost yourself, you will need to:
- show that you can afford the payments over the long term
- provide an up-to-date valuation of your property
- sign an agreement with the council
Things to think about
Before agreeing to pay the extra cost yourself, think about:
- whether you can afford the payments for the long term
- whether care home fees could increase in the future
- whether the extra amount you pay could increase over time
- what would happen if you could no longer make the payments
