Residential care
If you need full-time care in a hospital, rest home or residential treatment programme, you may be able to get help to pay for some of the cost of your care.
Your situation
The information here is just a guide. What payment you qualify for will depend on your individual circumstances.
65 and over, need to be in a rest home or private hospital indefinitely
If you need to be in a rest home or private hospital indefinitely, a Residential Care Subsidy may be able to pay for some of your care. It will depend on your and your partner's assets and income.
If you need to be in a rest home or private hospital indefinitely and want to keep your own home, a Residential Care Loan may be able to pay for some of your care.
Under 65, need to be in a rest home or private hospital
If you're under 65 and need to be in residential care, a private hospital or disability residential services, a Residential Support Subsidy may be able to pay for some of your care.
If you're 50-64 and need to be in a rest home or private hospital indefinitely, a Residential Care Subsidy may be able to pay for some of your care instead of a Residential Support Subsidy. It depends on your situation.
You may be able to get a Community Costs Payment if you:
- are getting a Residential Support Subsidy
- need to be in a residential treatment programme for less than 39 weeks
- still have costs such as rent and childcare to pay.
Getting a Residential Care Loan or Residential Support Subsidy
If some of your care is being paid for by a Residential Care Loan or a Residential Support Subsidy, you may also be able to get a Disability Allowance to help cover costs such as medical fees, prescriptions, etc.
Partner in care
If you're getting a benefit and your partner is in residential care, or has been in a public hospital for over 13 weeks, you may be able to get a Special Disability Allowance to help with the extra costs of your partner being in care.
Coming out of care
If you've lived in a private hospital or residential home for 6 months or more, and are now setting yourself up independently in the community, you may be able to get a Re-establishment Grant.
More information
Call us to talk about your situation
- 0800 999 727 - if you need to be in a rest home or private hospital indefinitely.
- 0800 999 779 - if you need care for rehabilitation, mental health, an intellectual disability or chronic health condition.