Care glossary · Paying for care
Deferred payment agreement: what it means
An arrangement with the council to delay paying care home fees from the value of the home until it is sold, or until death.
The council pays the fees and the amount is secured against the home. Interest and administration charges apply. Councils must offer one to people who qualify, so nobody has to sell their home in their lifetime to pay for care.
Other words to know
- 12-week property disregard: The value of a person's home is ignored for their first 12 weeks in a care home, if their other savings are under the upper limit.
Questions about deferred payment agreement
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More in Paying for care
Self-funder · Care needs assessment · Financial assessment (means test) · Upper capital limit · Lower capital limit · Tariff income · Personal expenses allowance · Minimum income guarantee · Disability-related expenditure · 12-week property disregard · Third-party top-up · Personal budget · Direct payments · Deprivation of assets · Care cap
Register information from CQC as at Oct 2026; Open Government Licence v3.0 applies. We do not deliver care ourselves.