Care Home Fees Northern Ireland: What You Will Actually Pay in 2026

The phone call from the hospital social worker says your parent needs a nursing home. Your first question: how much will this cost, and who pays? The answer depends on a strict means test with hard capital limits that have not changed since 2010.

The Capital Limits That Determine Who Pays

Northern Ireland's Charging for Residential Accommodation Guide (CRAG) sets two thresholds that control everything:

• Over £23,250 in assets: Your parent is a self-funder. They pay the full cost of their care home fees. The Trust contributes nothing toward the basic fee.
• Between £14,250 and £23,250: A tapered contribution applies. The Trust calculates "tariff income" at £1 per week for every £250 of capital above the £14,250 lower limit. Your parent's assessable weekly income is added to this figure, and the Trust covers the rest.
• Below £14,250: Capital is ignored entirely. Your parent contributes their weekly income (pensions, benefits) minus a Personal Expenses Allowance of £36.62 per week — legally protected money they keep for personal spending.

The family home is included in the capital calculation unless a spouse, civil partner, or relative over 60 still lives there. If none of those exemptions apply, the home's value is excluded for the first 12 weeks after a permanent move (the 12-week property disregard), giving time to sell or apply for a Deferred Payment Agreement.

Trust Tariff Rates vs Actual Market Fees

HSC Trusts set standard weekly tariff rates for the care they will fund:

Many private care homes charge above these rates. If the home your parent moves into costs more than the tariff, the difference is a third-party top-up — and it cannot come from your parent's assessed income. A relative, friend, or charity must sign a contract with the Trust to cover the gap. This creates a long-term financial obligation that can run for years.

The £100 Nursing Care Contribution

If your parent is in a nursing home (not residential care), the Trust pays a flat-rate Nursing Care Contribution of £100 per week directly to the home. This is not means-tested. Self-funders receive it too, though many families are never told about it. If your parent is self-funding in a nursing home, confirm that this £100 weekly deduction is being applied to their bill.

The Deferred Payment Option

If the family home must be sold to pay fees but has not sold yet, a Deferred Payment Agreement (DPA) lets the Trust pay the care home fees as a loan secured against the property. Interest accrues at 4.75% per year (as of January 2026) and is repaid when the home sells or from the estate.

A DPA buys time, but the compounding interest means the total cost rises significantly over a multi-year placement.

Planning Ahead

The Northern Ireland Dementia Care Guide includes a care funding worksheet that walks through the full means test calculation, explains how to request a financial reassessment as savings drop toward the £23,250 threshold, and covers the exact steps for challenging a Trust's funding decision.

See more Northern Ireland guides →