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.
Home care cost in Wales in 2026
Wales operates a flat £100/week cap on chargeable non-residential social care services, applied regardless of need, income or capital[12]. Attendance Allowance can offset that £100.
The Welsh residential threshold
For residential care, Wales uses a single capital threshold of £50,000, the highest in the UK[13]. Below £50,000, the council pays; above, the buyer self-funds.
What this means in practice
- A self-funder with £500,000 of savings in Cardiff pays the same £100/wk for council-arranged home care as someone with £10,000 of savings.
- If the package costs £600/wk, the council picks up £500.
- Attendance Allowance higher rate (£110.40/wk) more than covers the £100 cap.