Care glossary · Paying for care
Personal expenses allowance: what it means
The weekly amount a care home resident keeps from their income for personal spending: at least £31.80.
When the council helps pay care home fees, the resident keeps at least this much each week for things like clothes, toiletries and hairdressing.
Terms often used alongside it
- Minimum income guarantee: The weekly income someone receiving care at home must be left with after paying towards their care.
- Financial assessment (means test): The council's check of income and savings to work out how much someone pays towards their care.
Questions about personal expenses allowance
Free download
The care home visit checklist (40 points)
Use it to compare up to three homes on the same questions, from CQC reports and staffing to the room, fees and contract terms.
More in Paying for care
Self-funder · Care needs assessment · Financial assessment (means test) · Upper capital limit · Lower capital limit · Tariff income · Minimum income guarantee · Disability-related expenditure · 12-week property disregard · Deferred payment agreement · Third-party top-up · Personal budget · Direct payments · Deprivation of assets · Care cap
Built from the Care Quality Commission's register (Oct 2026) under Open Government Licence v3.0. The Care Panel lists and compares services but runs none.