Care homes and benefits - Benefits that can be paid if you live in a care home

If you get any of the benefits listed below, the amount you get for yourself will not change if you live in a care home.

However, if you get any extra money in the benefit for another person, for example for a child or your partner, it is important for you to get advice about your situation. If you have a partner, it may be better for them to make their own claim for a benefit.  You can use our Find an Adviser tool to find a local adviser.

• Basic State Pension

• New State Pension

• Widow’s Pension

• Widowed Parent’s Allowance

• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

• Statutory Maternity Pay

• Maternity Allowance

• Statutory Sick Pay

• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) (though the amount may change)

• The mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment or Adult Disability Payment (Scotland)

• Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)

If you are claiming Universal Credit, you may be able to carry on receiving it when you are living in a care home. You also might be able to make a new claim for Universal Credit when you live in a care home.

If you have a terminal illness and are in a hospice, you can continue to be paid Attendance Allowance, the Disability Living Allowance/Child Disability Payment care component, and Personal Independence Payment/Adult Disability Payment daily living component after you have been resident for 28 days.

If you pay all of your care home fees yourself,or the local authority is temporarily paying your care home fees for you while you sell a property and you are going to repay them once the property is sold, you can still get the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) care component, Personal Independence Payment daily living component, Adult Disability Payment daily living component or Attendance Allowance.

Reviewed: May 2022