NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)
If your primary need is a health need, the NHS may pay for all your care — including accommodation — at no cost to you. This guide explains what CHC is, how to apply, and what to do if you are refused.
What Is NHS Continuing Healthcare?
NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is a package of ongoing care arranged and funded entirely by the NHS for adults in England with significant, complex health needs. Unlike local authority funding, it is not means-tested — your savings, income, and property are completely irrelevant to eligibility.
CHC can fund care in a care home (including nursing home), your own home, or any other appropriate setting. If you qualify, the NHS pays the full cost of your care package, including accommodation in a care home.
Key point: CHC is assessed by the NHS, not by your local council. If you believe you may be eligible, you should request an assessment — do not assume you will be told about it automatically.
Who Is Eligible for CHC?
To be eligible for CHC, you must have a "primary health need" — meaning your overall care needs are primarily driven by health rather than social care needs. This is assessed by looking at the nature, intensity, complexity, and unpredictability of your needs.
The type of need and its effect on your health
The severity and quantity of your needs
How needs interact and the skill required to manage them
How quickly your condition can change and the risks this creates
There is no single diagnosis that automatically qualifies or disqualifies you. People with dementia, Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease, cancer, stroke, and many other conditions have been found eligible for CHC.
The 12 Care Domains
The CHC assessment uses a Decision Support Tool (DST) which scores your needs across 12 care domains. Each domain is rated as No Need, Low, Moderate, High, Severe, or Priority. Having one or more Priority or Severe ratings, or a combination of High ratings, may indicate eligibility.
How to Apply for CHC
Ask your GP, hospital discharge team, community nurse, or care home manager to complete a CHC Checklist. This is a quick screening tool to determine whether a full assessment is warranted.
If the checklist indicates possible eligibility, a multidisciplinary team (MDT) — usually including a nurse, social worker, and other relevant professionals — will carry out a full assessment using the Decision Support Tool.
The MDT makes a recommendation to the NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB), which makes the final funding decision. You should be informed of the decision in writing.
If eligible, the ICB arranges and funds a care package that meets your assessed needs. You have the right to choose your care home, subject to availability and cost.
NHS-Funded Nursing Care (FNC)
Even if you do not qualify for full CHC, if you live in a nursing home and need care from a registered nurse, you may be entitled to NHS-funded nursing care (FNC). This is a weekly payment made directly to the nursing home by the NHS.
| Rate | 2025/26 (prev) | 2026/27 | Who Qualifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard FNC | £235.88/week | £267.68/week | Nursing home residents who need registered nurse care but do not qualify for full CHC |
FNC is not means-tested. It is paid directly to the nursing home and should reduce your weekly care home bill by the FNC amount. Ask your nursing home whether they have registered you for FNC.
What to Do If You Are Refused CHC
If you are refused CHC and you believe the decision is wrong, you have the right to appeal. Many people who are initially refused are found eligible on appeal, particularly if they have good advocacy support.
Ask the ICB to explain in writing why you were refused. They must give reasons.
You can ask for a meeting with the ICB to discuss the decision before proceeding to a formal appeal.
Submit a formal appeal. The ICB must review the decision and respond within a set timeframe.
If still unsatisfied, you can request an Independent Review Panel through NHS England.
As a last resort, you can complain to the Ombudsman if you believe the process was flawed.
Consider contacting a specialist CHC advocate or solicitor. Organisations such as CHC Advocacy and Age UK can provide guidance.
Check your funding eligibility
Use our free calculator to get a personalised estimate including CHC eligibility indicators.
Use the Calculator