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 Hampshire cost from £1,850 a week.
- Carers: free local support for family carers, listed below.
East Hampshire, around Petersfield and Alton, is the part of the county nearest to us. Most of Hampshire is covered by Hampshire County Council, but Southampton and Portsmouth have their own city councils, so check which one covers your loved one's address before you call.
Who do you contact for council help in Hampshire?
Most of Hampshire is covered by Hampshire County Council. Southampton and Portsmouth have their own city councils.
| Council | Adult social care contact | Deferred payments |
|---|---|---|
| Hampshire County Council | Adults' Health and Care, 0300 555 1386, or the council's online referral form | Yes |
| Southampton City Council | 023 8083 3003 | Yes |
| Portsmouth City Council | 023 9268 0810 | 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 Hampshire?
| 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 Hampshire | from £1,850 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. If you pay for care at home in full but ask Hampshire County Council to arrange it, there's a one-off arrangement fee and a small weekly fee. Check the current amounts on the council's website.
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 Hampshire, contact NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight on 0300 123 4448 (option 4 for Hampshire, 2 for Southampton, 3 for Portsmouth).
- How to pay for live-in care, for both of these in more detail.
Where can family carers get support in Hampshire?
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:
- Hampshire Carers Support Service (Princess Royal Trust for Carers in Hampshire), 01264 311680: one-to-one support, emergency planning and carers' assessments
- Portsmouth Carers Service: support for carers in Portsmouth (portsmouthcarersservice.co.uk)
- Southampton carers' support: ask Southampton City Council's adult social care team, 023 8083 3003
Free, independent advice
- Age UK Portsmouth, 023 9286 2121
- Age UK Southampton, 023 8036 8636
- Age Concern Hampshire (most of the rest of the county), 01962 868545
- 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
- Hampshire County Council: paying for care at home, deferred payments, carer support service
- Southampton City Council and Portsmouth City Council: adult social care
- DHSC: Social care charging for care and support 2026 to 2027
