The short answer
- Council help: start with a free care needs assessment from the council where your loved one lives.
- Savings over £23,250: you'll usually pay the full cost of care yourself.
- Care at home: the council doesn't count the value of the home in its means test.
- Costs: live-in care with us from £1,095 a week; nursing homes in East Sussex cost from £1,950 a week.
- Carers: free local support for family carers, listed below.
East Sussex is split between two councils. Brighton and Hove has its own city council, and East Sussex County Council covers everywhere else, from Eastbourne and Hastings to the Wealden villages. Check which one covers your loved one's address before you call, as the contacts and charges are different.
Who do you contact for council help in East Sussex?
Most of East Sussex is covered by East Sussex County Council. Brighton and Hove has its own city council.
| Council | Adult social care contact | Deferred payments |
|---|---|---|
| East Sussex County Council | Health and Social Care Connect, 0345 60 80 191 (8am to 8pm, every day) or HSCC@eastsussex.gov.uk | Yes |
| Brighton & Hove City Council | Access Point, the main contact for adult social care: see the council's website | Yes |
Ask for a care needs assessment. It's free, and anyone who appears to need care and support can have one, whatever their savings. If the council agrees your loved one has eligible needs, it then does a financial assessment to work out what they pay.
What does care cost in East Sussex?
| Type of care | Weekly cost |
|---|---|
| Live-in care with Homestay Carers | from £1,095 for one person, from £1,445 for a couple who both need care (from £1,260 if only one of you does) |
| Fully managed live-in agency | typically from £1,675 |
| Nursing home in East Sussex | from £1,950 per person |
Compare costs for your situation.
Will the council help pay?
In England, for 2026 to 2027, if your loved one's savings and other capital are over £23,250, they'll usually pay the full cost of their care. Between £14,250 and £23,250, the council contributes and they pay part. Below £14,250, that capital is ignored, though they'll still pay something from their income.
Will we have to sell the house?
Not for care at home: the value of the home your loved one lives in isn't counted. In a care home it usually is, after the first 12 weeks, unless a partner or certain relatives still live there. All of these councils offer deferred payment agreements, which let the council pay care home fees and recover the money from the house later. Will we have to sell the house to pay for care?
What else should you check?
- Attendance Allowance: a benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care. It isn't means-tested.
- NHS Continuing Healthcare: if your loved one's needs are mainly health needs, the NHS may pay the full cost of their care. In East Sussex, including Brighton and Hove, contact the All-Age Continuing Care team at NHS Surrey and Sussex on 0300 561 1444.
- How to pay for live-in care, for both of these in more detail.
Where can family carers get support in East Sussex?
If you help a loved one with their care, you can ask the council for a free carer's assessment of your own needs. These local organisations offer free advice and support:
- Care for the Carers (East Sussex), 01323 738 390: the first point of contact for carers in East Sussex: information, advice and carers' cards
- Brighton & Hove Carers Hub: support for carers in Brighton and Hove, run by The Carers Centre, Crossroads Care and Alzheimer's Society
Free, independent advice
- Age UK East Sussex, 01273 476 704
- Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove (for Brighton and Hove), 0800 019 1310, free
- Age UK Advice Line: 0800 678 1602, free, 8am to 7pm, every day
This guide covers England. It's general information, not financial or legal advice. Council contacts and charges change, so check with the council before relying on them.
Sources
- East Sussex County Council: contact adult social care, paying for care, residential care and your home
- Brighton & Hove City Council: deferred payments
- East Sussex County Council: support for carers
- DHSC: Social care charging for care and support 2026 to 2027
