Glossary of Terms

Any financial assets owned by a resident, including savings, investments, stocks, shares, and property (such as a house or land). Capital is assessed to determine the resident's ability to pay for care.

The official guidance document used by Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland to calculate how much a resident should contribute towards their care home fees.

An arrangement with the HSC Trust where a resident's care fees are paid by the Trust as a loan, secured against the value of their property. The debt is repaid when the property is eventually sold.

The act of deliberately reducing one's assets (e.g., by giving away money or property) with the intention of avoiding or reducing care home charges. The Trust may treat the resident as if they still own the asset.

Specific assets or income that are ignored during the financial assessment. For example, the value of a resident's home is 'disregarded' for the first 12 weeks of their stay.

A review of a resident's income and capital carried out by the HSC Trust to determine how much they can afford to pay towards their care home fees.

The regional public body in Northern Ireland responsible for managing health and social care services, including the assessment and funding of residential care.

A relative who, in very specific and rare circumstances, may be asked to contribute to a resident's care costs. This is primarily limited to spouses or parents of minor children, but is rarely enforced.

The threshold (currently £14,250) below which a resident's capital is fully disregarded. If capital is below this amount, the resident only contributes from their income.

Capital that a resident does not physically possess (e.g., because they gave it away) but is treated by the Trust as belonging to them for the purpose of the financial assessment.

A weekly amount of income that a resident is legally entitled to keep for their own personal use (e.g., for toiletries or small treats). It is not used to pay for care fees.

The full cost of a place in a care home. If a resident has capital above the Upper Capital Limit, they are expected to pay this full rate.

An assumed income calculated from a resident's capital. For every £250 (or part thereof) between the Lower and Upper Capital Limits, the Trust assumes an income of £1 per week.

An additional payment made by a relative or friend to cover the difference between the amount the Trust is willing to pay and the actual cost of a more expensive care home chosen by the resident.

The threshold (currently £23,250) above which a resident is expected to pay the full cost of their care (the Standard Rate).