Free personal care in Scotland 2026: Eligibility and what is included?

What does free personal care mean?

Free personal care was originally introduced in Scotland for people aged 65 and over who were assessed as needing it by their local authority.

In 2018, this was extended to include anybody aged 18 or over, with the scheme in full force by April 2019.

This legislation helps to ease the financial burden that often comes with paying for care. But it can be difficult to work out which kinds of support services come under the umbrella of personal care.

This article covers everything that’s classified as personal care as well as services that are not included.

Who qualifies for free personal care in Scotland?

To be eligible for free personal care, you’ll first need to undergo a needs assessment.

A needs assessment is free of charge and will involve a social care professional (such as a nurse or occupational therapist) visiting your home and asking a range of questions to find out more about you, your lifestyle and what kind of help you would benefit from.  

The social care professional will use this information to complete an assessment form whilst they are with you. You’ll be able to check and sign to ensure you’re happy with what they’ve included.

Your assessment will then be reviewed to determine if you’re eligible for care services. If you are eligible, a care plan will be devised for you based on the information that was gathered during your assessment.

What is the personal care allowance in 2026/27?

If you are assessment shows that you need personal care, your local council will pay for the cost of this. This is a ‘personal care allowance’.

The personal care allowance rate in 2026/27 is £260.30 per week.

This is a flat rate payment that the council pays directly to the care provider.

Bear in mind that free personal care payments can’t be backdated to before an assessment was carried out.

How much does it cost if I have to pay for my own home care?

A person paying for their own home care can expect to pay on average £26-38 an hour

What if I have moved to Scotland from another part of the UK?

To be eligible for free personal care, you’ll need to have been living in Scotland for a certain amount of time.

Each local authority set its own timeframe, so you should reach out to the council where you live to find out more specific information.

But it is important to note that if you live in Scotland but still own a home in another part of the UK, you won’t be eligible for free personal care.

What’s included in personal care in Scotland?

It’s important to bear in mind that not every aspect of care will fall under the category of personal care. This means that there may be certain elements of care you’ll still have to pay for, depending on your needs.

The Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 outlines the following as personal care services:

Personal hygiene

• bathing
• showering
• hair washing
• shaving
• brushing your teeth
• nail care
• going to the toilet
• catheter and stoma care
• skin care
• incontinence
• laundry
• bed changing

Mealtimes

• eating
• special diets
• food preparation

Immobility problems

• This includes help with moving about indoors. 

Medication management

• taking medication (like eye drops)
• application of creams and lotions
• simple dressings
• oxygen therapy

General wellbeing

• counselling
• behaviour management
• psychological support
• reminding devices
• dressing
• surgical appliances
• prostheses
• mechanical and manual aids
• help getting in and out of bed and using hoists

What’s not included in personal care?

Any part of your care that doesn’t fall under the category of personal care will be charged for.

This includes:

• Housework
• Laundry
• Shopping
• Services outside of the home, such as support attending a doctor’s appointment or a social event

You may still be entitled to financial assistance for these aspects of your care. This will be determined through a financial assessment, also known as a means test.

Similar to a needs assessment, a financial assessment will involve a person from your local council asking you a range of questions. This will typically take place in your own home. In order to arrange a financial assessment you can contact your local council here.