Charging for residential care

If you need residential care, your local authority may ask you to pay towards the cost. This section looks at the rules the local authority have on charging for residential accommodation. This section is an overview because the rules are complicated.

• The local authority has to charge you for residential care services if you can afford to pay. 
• The should not charge you for residential care services if you get free aftercare under section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983.
• If you are not happy about how much the local authority are charging, you can ask for a review or complain.

This section covers:

1. What is residential care?
2. Will I have to pay for residential care?
3. The Mental Health Act and section 117 aftercare services
4. What if I cannot afford the charges?

These pages are created by Rethink Mental Illness' Advice Service in accordance with the Information Standard. Last reviewed in February 2016. Next review March 2018.