What would care actually cost?
Pick the shape of the care, say who would be paying, and this works it out from the sector’s own figures rather than a guess. Nothing is stored and nothing is asked about you.
What that costs
- 14 hours a week at £34.42the minimum sustainable price for 2026-27
- £481.88
£482
a week
£2,088
a month
£25,058
a year
- This uses Homecare Association's minimum sustainable price of £34.42 an hour. It is a floor, not an average, so a real quote is likely to be higher rather than lower.
- Ask your council for a free needs assessment before assuming you will pay for all of it. The assessment comes first and nobody asks about money at that stage.
- Most agencies charge more at weekends and on bank holidays, and many have a minimum visit length.
Where the numbers come from
- £34.42 an hour is the Homecare Association’s minimum sustainable price for 2026-27: the least an agency can charge and still pay its carers lawfully for travel time as well as time in your home.
- Council rates come from NHS England and are what each council actually paid agencies. The median is £21.19 an hour, and 99% of councils pay below the minimum price above. See every council
- Benefit rates come from GOV.UK and are not means tested. Check what you could claim
Before you budget for all of it
Ask your council for a needs assessment. It is free, it is your right whatever your savings, and nobody asks about money at that stage. It is also what gets you a care plan, equipment and access to direct payments, none of which depend on the council paying the bill.