Funding your own care and support

If you are paying for your own care and support, it is important that you receive good information and advice to help you make the most of your money, and to make good choices about your future care and support arrangements.

If you pay the full cost of your care and support without any help us, we call you a self-funder. People make their own arrangements for care and support for different reasons. Some people choose to pay for their own care and support simply because they prefer to make their own arrangements for support or they do not want to be financially assessed by us.

Other people ask us for an assessment and during that process find out that they are not eligible for financial support.

If you have over £23,250 in capital and/or savings, you will be expected to fully fund your care and support services.

What help can I get as a self-funder?

We will always aim to support you to stay in your own home, safely and for as long as possible. Supporting you to do more for yourself can help to improve your quality of life and may help reduce the cost of your care and support. There are a range of services available to all residents whether or not you qualify for support from us, such as:

  • Information and advice to help you make informed decisions about your care and support and how it is funded
  • Simple equipment and small adaptations to your home up to the value of £1,000 free of charge that can help you with daily living, such as getting dressed or using the toilet
  • An assessment to help you and others understand your needs better and will help you think through the options
  • Further information and advice from voluntary organisations who run a range of activities for all ages and interests 

Find out more about available services for everyone

What help is available with arranging care and support at home?

If you have been assessed as having eligible care and support needs and are paying the full cost of your care and support at home, we can help arrange your services for you. We can help by:

  • Finding the right care provider to meet your needs and preferences from our list of contracted care providers
  • Negotiating the cost of your care and support at Council rates and putting in place a contract
  • Monitoring the quality of your care and support
  • Working with your care provider to address any concerns or complaints about the quality of the care you are getting
  • Managing all payments to the care provider for you

How much will it cost?

There will be a charge of £57.60 a week to cover our administration costs for making these arrangements. To find out more, please contact us on 020 8871 7707 or email accessteam@wandsworth.gov.uk.

If you wish to set up a Direct Debit you do this by either:

  • Calling the Capita Accounts Receivable team on 0203 830 1900
  • Downloading and completing a Direct Debit form

What help is available with arranging care and support in a care home?

Unfortunately, we are not able to arrange care for anyone looking to stay in a care home. However, we can still provide you with information and advice including a list of suitable local care homes. Or you can choose your own care provider on our CarePlace directory or on the CQC website.

Where to get more information and advice

If you are funding your own care and support, it is important that you receive good information and advice to help you make the most of your money, and to make good choices about your future care and support arrangements. We also recommend that you take independent financial advice to discuss your financial situation.

Paying for your own care and support 

Find the help you need

Contact us

View contact details for Adult Social Care.