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 Kent cost from £1,800 a week.
- Carers: free local support for family carers, listed below.
Kent is a big county, and two councils share it: Medway Council covers Chatham, Gillingham, Rochester, Strood and Rainham, and Kent County Council covers the rest. Support for family carers is split too, between West Kent, East Kent and Medway, so the list below shows who covers which area.
Who do you contact for council help in Kent?
Most of Kent is covered by Kent County Council. Medway (Chatham, Gillingham, Rochester, Strood and Rainham) has its own council.
| Council | Adult social care contact | Deferred payments |
|---|---|---|
| Kent County Council | 03000 41 61 61 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) or social.services@kent.gov.uk | Yes |
| Medway Council | 01634 334 466 or ss.accessandinfo@medway.gov.uk | 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 Kent?
| 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 Kent | from £1,800 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 Kent and Medway, contact the All Age Continuing Care team at NHS Kent and Medway on 01634 335095 (option 8).
- How to pay for live-in care, for both of these in more detail.
Where can family carers get support in Kent?
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:
- Imago (West Kent carers' support), 0300 011 1965: carers' assessments, benefits help and emergency planning
- Involve Kent (East Kent carers' support), 03000 810 005: carers' support across East Kent
- Carers First (Medway): carers' support in Medway (carersfirst.org.uk)
Free, independent advice
- Age UK Maidstone, Sevenoaks & Tonbridge, 01622 753618
- 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
- Kent County Council: adult social care, charges and deferred payments
- Medway Council: adult social care, deferred payments policy, support for carers
- Imago: Kent Carers Support Service
- DHSC: Social care charging for care and support 2026 to 2027
