The short answer
- Council help: start with a free care needs assessment from Surrey County Council.
- 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 Surrey cost from £1,950 a week.
- Carers: free local support for family carers, listed below.
Surrey borders our home county, and the towns and villages around Haslemere and Cranleigh are close to our base in Pulborough. Surrey County Council covers the whole county, so wherever your loved one lives, from the Surrey Hills to the towns near London, there's one council to contact.
Who do you contact for council help in Surrey?
In Surrey, adult social care is run by Surrey County Council.
| Council | Adult social care contact | Deferred payments |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey County Council | Adult Social Care information and advice, 0300 200 1005 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) or asc.infoandadvice@surreycc.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 Surrey?
| 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 Surrey | 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. Surrey's own charging policy for care at home has used a higher savings limit than the national figure, and the council consulted on changes in 2025. Check the current rules on Surrey's website before relying on them.
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. The council offers 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 Surrey, it's assessed by the All-Age Continuing Care team at NHS Surrey and Sussex. Ask your loved one's GP, nurse or social worker to complete a checklist.
- How to pay for live-in care, for both of these in more detail.
Where can family carers get support in Surrey?
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:
- Action for Carers Surrey, 0303 040 1234: helpline, benefits advice, local hubs and support in hospitals
Free, independent advice
- Age UK Surrey, 01483 503414
- 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
- Surrey County Council: contact adult social care, guide to paying for care, deferred payments policy, charging policy
- Carers Trust: Action for Carers Surrey
- DHSC: Social care charging for care and support 2026 to 2027
