How care home fees actually work in England & Wales.
A 12-page guide for mortgage-free homeowners who'd rather understand the real rules than be sold to. Written by an estate planner with 25 years in the industry and a financial services background.
What's inside.
The means-test thresholds, in plain English (England 2025/26; Wales noted).
What counts as your assets — and what doesn't.
The deliberate-deprivation rule explained properly — not as marketing.
Couples and care fees — the most-asked question we get.
NHS Continuing Healthcare — the under-claimed funding stream.
Top-up fees — the trap families miss.
Where estate planning genuinely helps. And where it doesn't.
General information only. Individual advice required. Trusts do not guarantee protection from care fee assessments.
Want to talk instead of read?
Free 20-minute initial call. No pitch, no pressure.