Written by Oliver Wakefield-Smith. Reviewed for accuracy against the Homecare Association's 2026/27 minimum-price report and Age UK's 2026 factsheets. Numbers verified 21 June 2026.
NHS Continuing Healthcare and home care
NHS Continuing Healthcare is the most generous form of UK adult social care funding: it pays for 100% of the assessed care package, with no means test[16].
Who qualifies
The Decision Support Tool scores 12 care domains (Breathing, Nutrition, Continence, Skin, Mobility, Communication, Cognition, Psychological/Emotional, Behaviour, Medication, Altered States, Other) on a scale from None to Priority. A primary health need is established by:
- One Priority score in any of four key domains, OR
- Two Severe scores, OR
- A combination of Severe and High scores giving complexity, intensity, nature or unpredictability[17].
The Fast Track route
For someone with a rapidly deteriorating condition and likely end of life, a clinician completes the Fast Track form (about 20 minutes) and the package is in place within 48 hours[4].
Why CHC is so often refused
Two reasons. First, the Checklist stage screens out 60-70% of applications before they reach the DST. Second, the DST is administered by ICB clinicians under pressure to ration. The Age UK factsheet documents the recurrent reasons for refusal and the routes to appeal[4].