FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT FREE PERSONAL AND NURSING CARE IN SCOTLAND
FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN A CARE HOME:
Who can receive free personal care?
Free personal care is available for individuals aged 65 years and over who can fund their own care. It does not affect those who will be publicly funded. Your local authority will carry out a financial assessment to determine if you can fund your own care. Our booklet Thinking About Moving Into A Care Home explains the criteria in more detail.
Who can receive free nursing care?
Free nursing care is available to all individuals regardless of age, who have been assessed as needing nursing care.
How much money will I receive?
If you are assessed as needing these services your local authority will pay £153 per week for personal care, £69 per week for nursing care, or £222 per week if you require both personal and nursing care. The payments will be paid directly to your care provider on your behalf.
How will I receive the money?
Your local authority will pay the money direct to your care home and you will see a reduction in your care home fees.
Will I still be able to receive attendance allowance or disability living allowance if I receive free personal care in a care home?
If you choose to receive the £153 per week for personal care you will no longer be eligible for these benefits after 28 days. You must inform the Department of Work and Pensions of your change in circumstances, on 08457 123 456.
Will I still be able to receive attendance allowance or disability living allowance if I receive free nursing care in a care home?
Your eligibility for benefits will not be affected if you receive the £69 per week for nursing care only. More information on benefits to which you may be entitled is available from the Department of Work and Pensions.
Can I move into a care home elsewhere in the UK and still receive free personal and/or nursing care?
If a Scottish local authority assesses you as needing residential care and you are 65 or over, you should discuss the move to a care home elsewhere in the UK with that local authority. Where the Scottish local authority arranges the placement elsewhere in the UK you may be entitled to free personal and/or nursing care while that local authority remains responsible for your placement.
I currently live outside Scotland. Can I move to a care home in Scotland and receive free personal and/or nursing care?
You must first must move to Scotland and then be assessed by a Scottish local authority as needing personal and/or nursing care. You should contact your local authority for more information.
What will I still need to pay for?
You will still need to pay for your everyday housing and living costs in the care home. This is the balance after the deduction of £153 per week for personal care services, £69 per week for nursing care services, or £222 per week if you require both personal and nursing care services.
FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE AT HOME:
Who can receive free personal care at home? 
You can receive free personal care if you are aged 65 or over and you have been assessed by the local authority as needing it.
You will then receive the care free of charge or alternatively you can ask your local authority for a direct payment so you can arrange and purchase the services yourself. For more information or to apply you should speak to your local authority or for more general information visit the Direct Payments website.
Will I still be able to receive attendance allowance or disability living allowance if I receive free personal care at home?
Yes. Eligibility for these benefits is not affected.
What will I still need to pay for?
You may be required to pay for any non-personal care you need such as lunch clubs, meals on wheels and help with shopping and housework. If you need these kinds of services your local authority will carry out a financial assessment to determine whether you are able to meet or contribute towards the cost.
I currently live outside Scotland . Can I move to Scotland and receive free personal care at home?
Yes, if you become a permanent resident then you will be treated the same as anyone else.
What if I own my own home and have savings and pensions?
Free personal care is available regardless of income, capital assets or marital status.
FURTHER USEFUL LINKS:
On Tuesday 28 November 2006 the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) published a report of an investigation regarding free personal care. The full report can be found on the SPSO website.