Paying for care in Scotland 2026/27: free personal care and the £36,750 limit

In short: in Scotland, personal care is free for adults of any age who are assessed as needing it. In a care home the council pays £260.30 a week towards personal care and £117.10 a week towards nursing care (2026/27). The rest of the fee (accommodation and living costs) is means-tested: with savings over £36,750 you pay it yourself.

Scotland’s 2026/27 figures at a glance

Free personal care

Since April 2019, free personal and nursing care applies to every adult in Scotland who needs it, not only people over 65. Personal care means help with washing, dressing, eating, going to the toilet, managing medicines and similar tasks. The council must first assess the person and agree they need it.

• At home: personal care is provided free. The council may still charge for other help, such as shopping, cleaning or day care, under its own charging policy.
• In a care home: the council pays the flat weekly amounts above straight to the home, whether or not the person is paying the rest themselves.

Paying the rest of a care home fee

The personal care payment covers only part of a typical care home fee. For the rest, the council carries out a financial assessment:

• Savings and assets over £36,750: the person pays the remaining fee themselves (a self-funder) but still gets the free personal and nursing care payments.
• Between £22,750 and £36,750: the council helps, and £1 a week is added to income for every £250 of capital above £22,750.
• Below £22,750: savings are ignored. The person contributes most of their income and keeps a personal expenses allowance.

The home is usually counted, but it is ignored while a partner or certain relatives still live there, and for the first 12 weeks of a permanent stay. A deferred payment agreement can stop the home having to be sold during the person’s lifetime.

Benefits that help

• Pension Age Disability Payment replaced Attendance Allowance in Scotland. It is not means-tested and is paid by Social Security Scotland. It stops after 28 days for people whose care home place is council-funded.
• Adult Disability Payment is for people under State Pension age.
• Carer Support Payment replaced Carer’s Allowance for unpaid carers in Scotland.

How to get started

1. Ask the council’s social work department for a needs assessment (free).
2. If care is needed, ask for a financial assessment, or tell the council you will pay privately.
3. Compare services and their Care Inspectorate grades in our directory of care in Scotland.
4. Use the care savings calculator (choose Scotland) to see how long savings would last.

Find care in Scotland

Care homes in Scotland by council area · Care at home in Scotland by council area

Figures are for April 2026 to March 2027, from the Scottish Government and Social Security Scotland. Councils apply the rules, so check details with the local council.

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 26 October 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.