Can I get a state pension if I get care at home?

If you’re wondering is a pension safe from care costs, what happens to my pension if I get home care and will home care can affect pension amount, this article can help. Firstly, you will still receive your State Pension even if you are receiving home care.

Is my pension affected by home care?

Your State Pension (Basic State Pension and New State Pension) may be taken into account when determining how much you pay towards your care costs.  

Your State Pension is considered as income when determining your contribution to home care fees if your care is state-funded (funded by local authorities, the NHS or Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland). 

How much is the basic State Pension in 2025?

For the 2025/2026 tax year, the basic State Pension amount is £176.45 per week.

This applies if you reached pension age before April 2016. Your State Pension amount depends on your National Insurance record.

How much is the full new State Pension in 2025?

In 2025/26, the new State Pension is £230.25 per week, if you reached pension age after April 2016.

The new State Pension was introduced in 2016 to replace the basic State Pension. How much you get depends on your National Insurance record.

How much is home care in 2025?

In 2025/26, home care in the UK costs on average between £26 – £38 per hour.

• In England, you have to pay your own home care fees as a ‘self-funder’ if your capital is over £23,250. You qualify for financial support from the council and must pay a contribution from your income (such as pensions) if your capital is between £14,250 and £23,250 in England.
• In Wales, local authorities can only charge people receiving home care a maximum of £100 per week. This is regardless of how much money they have in savings and what services they receive. A capital limit of £24,000 is applied regarding people’s savings and assets.
• In Scotland, everyone can receive free personal and nursing care. But only if they have been assessed by their local authority as needing it.
• In Northern Ireland and have over £23,250 in capital (savings, investments and property) you must meet the full cost of home care.  If you have between £23,250 and £14,250, you must pay a contribution towards your home care. If you have less than £14,250, you pay nothing towards home care.   

Is my private pension affected by my care at home?

Private pensions will still be paid as normal even if you receive care at home. However, your private pension will be considered part of your income when calculating your contribution towards home care costs. Your private pension may be included in the financial assessment for care funding.    

What is Minimum Income Guarantee?

Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) is an amount set aside to cover your everyday expenses when you receive local authority-arranged home care in England and Wales.  MIG is for adults who receive care and support other than in a care home that is arranged by the local authority.  MIG differs from Personal Expenses Allowance (PEA) which is give to local-authority supported care home residents. 

If you have your care at home arranged by the local authority (rather than funding it privately), the local authority will use the information they have gathered about your finances to calculate your Minimum Income Guarantee.

MIG comes from your income. It’s a set amount that you must be allowed to keep to cover your day to day living expenses, rather than being spent on your care.

To assess how much you should pay towards your care, local authorities conduct a financial means test which looks at your income, savings and any other capital and assets you have.

How much is Minimum Income Guarantee?

The Minimum Income Guarantee amounts per week for the tax year 2025/26 are:

If you are single:

• You are of pension credit age or over: £232.60.
• You are aged between 25 and pension credit age: £112.50.
• You are aged 18-24: £89.15.
• You receive or would be eligible for disability premium: £49.65.
• You receive or would be eligible for enhanced disability premium: £24.25.
• You receive or would be eligible for carer premium: £53.25.

When you are in a couple:

• One or both of you are of pension credit age or over: £177.55.
• One or both of you are aged 18 or over: £88.35.
• One of you receives or would be eligible for disability premium: £35.40.
• One of you receives or would be eligible for enhanced disability premium: £17.45.
• One of you receives or would be eligible for carer premium: £53.25.

If you have a child:

• You are responsible for a child and you live in the same house or flat as them: £102.95 per child (child premium)

What benefits are affected by receiving home care?

Although your State Pension stays the same, other benefits or support you receive may be impacted. These include:

• Attendance Allowance – If you’re over State Pension age and have care needs, you may be eligible for Attendance Allowance, which is not means-tested and is unaffected by income or savings.
• Pension Credit -Pension Credit is means-tested, and your eligibility might change depending on the financial arrangements around your home care, such as contributions from the local authority or other income.
• Local Authority Support and Financial Assessments – If your local council provides or helps fund your home care, they will carry out a financial assessment to determine what you can afford to contribute. While your State Pension is counted as income in this assessment, the amount you receive won’t change,  only how much you might pay towards care costs could be affected.
• Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction – These benefits could be influenced if your circumstances change significantly due to home care arrangements. For example, if someone moves in to care for you, it may affect how your local authority calculates your entitlement.