CHC, Funded Nursing Care and social care funding compared
6 min read · Written by the Future You CHC team
Families are often told several different things about who pays for care. There are three main routes in England and Wales, and they are not interchangeable. The names and thresholds differ between the two countries, but the structure is the same.
NHS Continuing Healthcare
Fully NHS funded, not means tested, awarded when needs are primarily health needs. Covers the whole assessed package, whether at home or in a care home.
NHS-funded Nursing Care (FNC)
A flat weekly NHS contribution towards the nursing element of care for people in a nursing home who are not eligible for CHC. England and Wales both operate this, at different weekly rates set each year. The rest of the fee remains means tested or self-funded. FNC should always be considered whenever CHC or CNHC is declined for someone in a nursing home.
Local authority social care
Means tested against income and capital. Above the capital threshold, people generally fund their own care. England and Wales set different thresholds and charging rules — England applies the Care Act 2014, Wales the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, including its weekly cap on non-residential care charges. Either way, a financial assessment is separate from the CHC or CNHC process and should not replace it.
Why the order matters
CHC should be considered before a means-tested financial assessment concludes that someone must self-fund. Where that order is reversed, families can pay for months or years of care that the NHS should have funded. If you are being asked to sign a care home contract while CHC has never been screened, pause and ask for a Checklist.
Still have questions about your own situation?
Guides explain the process; every situation is different. Our independent support, delivered by an experienced Mental Health Nurse, can help you understand where you are, prepare relevant information and think through your next steps. It doesn't guarantee an outcome, and not every family needs paid support.
Official guidance: the National Framework (England) and the Continuing NHS Healthcare Framework (Wales).
This guide is general information about the NHS Continuing Healthcare process in England and Wales. It is not legal advice and does not replace an individual assessment of your circumstances.