What is NHS Continuing Healthcare funding and who qualifies?

Full answer

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is a package of care funded entirely by the NHS for adults (18+) in England whose ongoing care needs are primarily health-related rather than social. It matters financially because, unlike local authority social care, CHC is not means-tested: there is no charge to the individual and your savings, home and income are irrelevant once you qualify. This contrasts sharply with council-funded social care, where you typically pay in full if your capital exceeds the upper threshold. Eligibility hinges on whether you have a 'primary health need'. Assessment is usually a two-stage process: an initial Checklist screening, then a full assessment by a multidisciplinary team using the Decision Support Tool, which scores needs across domains such as mobility, cognition, behaviour, continence and medication across levels (priority, severe, high, moderate, low, no needs). It is the nature, intensity, complexity and unpredictability of your needs that count - not any specific diagnosis. There is also a Fast Track pathway for people who are rapidly deteriorating or approaching end of life. Who it affects: people with serious long-term conditions, severe disability, or complex care needs, and their families - especially those facing large care home bills. If you do not meet the full CHC threshold but have some nursing needs in a care home, you may instead receive NHS-funded Nursing Care, a contribution paid to the home. A practical point: assessments are frequently disputed, and families can request a review and appeal decisions through the NHS and ultimately the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. You can also claim retrospectively for periods where CHC should have applied. Because the financial thresholds for the alternative council social care system are set separately and change, check current figures on gov.uk or with your local authority rather than relying on a fixed number. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own equivalent arrangements.