The Reality of Long Term Care Costs

Your Care Funding Options

• Care Insurance

  Traditional pre-funded long-term care insurance is no longer available to buy in the UK because rising, uncapped care costs and high life expectancy made these policies unsustainable for insurers, however existing policyholders still receive payouts.

  Alternatives

  • Immediate Needs Annuities: Pay a one-off lump sum to a provider like Aviva, Just, or Legal and General in exchange for a tax-free, guaranteed regular income for life to cover care fees.
    • An immediate needs annuity is designed to cover the shortfall between your income and the cost of your care for the rest of your life. The income is tax-free and it is paid directly to the care provider. The income can increase either with inflation or a set amount each year to help you cope with future rises in care costs. For an extra cost, you may also be able to include a ‘capital protection’ clause, allowing your family to get some of the lump sum payment back if you were to die early.
  • Equity Release: You can unlock cash tied up in your home to fund care without selling your property immediately. For further information refer to our Equity release guide Equity Release – Interface Financial Planning
  • State and NHS Support: Check eligibility via your local council or look into NHS Continuing Healthcare for fully funded medical care if you have complex needs.
    • The means-testing thresholds for council care support in England are as follows:
      • Upper threshold: £23,250 – Capital above this means you self-fund entirely. The council will not contribute to your care costs until your capital falls below this level.
      • Lower threshold: £14,250 – Capital below this is completely disregarded. The council assesses only your income, not your capital.
      • Tariff income: For every £250 of capital above £14,250, you are treated as having £1 per week of notional income from that capital, regardless of whether it actually generates any income. This tariff income is added to your real weekly income when calculating your contribution.
      • These thresholds have not been significantly uprated in many years and represent one of the most controversial aspects of the UK care funding system. The government has proposed a care cap of £86,000 on personal care costs, but as of 2026, this has not been implemented.

• Investment Planning

  Building a dedicated fund through ISAs, pensions, and investments to self-fund potential care needs.

  • Flexibility and control
  • Potential for growth
  • Inheritance if unused

• Property & Assets

  Understanding how your home and assets can be protected or used to fund care whilst maximising what passes to family.

  • Asset protection strategies
  • Family home preservation
  • Legacy planning