Care Fees Means Test & Personal Expenses Allowance (UK Nations, 2026)

The care‑fees means test determines how much you must contribute towards residential or nursing‑home care when the local authority is involved.  If the council is paying part of your fees, you must be left with a protected weekly amount of income for personal spending.

This protected amount is called the Personal Expenses Allowance (PEA) in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and the Minimum Income Amount (MIA) in Wales.

1.  What the means test does

When you request local‑authority funding for care, the council assesses:

• Capital (savings, investments, property)
• Income (State Pension, private pensions, annuities, dividends, rental income)

If the council contributes, most of your income goes towards care fees, but you always keep a protected weekly amount (PEA/MIA).

2.  Personal Expenses Allowance by nation (2026)

England — £31.80/week

Residents funded by the local authority must be left with £31.80/week for personal spending.

Scotland — £37.65/week

Scotland uses the same PEA concept, set at £37.65/week for 2026.  Local councils may increase this in special circumstances (e.g., fuel costs, pet care).

Wales — £46.35/week (Minimum Income Amount)

Wales uses a different term — Minimum Income Amount (MIA) — set at £46.35/week in 2026.

Northern Ireland — £34.10/week

Northern Ireland’s PEA is £34.10/week for 2026.

3.  What the PEA/MIA is for

The allowance is for personal discretionary spending, not care costs.  Examples include:

• Clothing
• Toiletries and grooming
• Newspapers, magazines
• Snacks and treats
• Gifts for family
• Phone calls
• Hairdressing

No care home or local authority can legally require you to use your PEA/MIA to pay for care.

4.  How income is treated in the means test

If the council contributes to your care fees:

• Most of your income (State Pension, private pensions, benefits) goes towards the weekly cost.
• Your PEA/MIA is disregarded from the calculation — meaning it is ring‑fenced and protected.

5.  Capital Thresholds

England

• Upper Capital Limit: £23,250.00.  If your wealth is above this, you are required to self fund social care.
• Lower Capital Limit: £14,250.00.  If your wealth is below this, the local authority will fund social care.
  
• Wealth between £23,250.00 and £14,250.00?
  • You will be required to make a contribution for every £250.00 over £14,250.00, you will be required to pay £1 per week towards social care fees.
• Income Assessment:  your income will also assessed.

Northern Ireland

• Upper Capital Limit: £23,250.00.  If your wealth is above this, you are required to self fund social care.
• Lower Capital Limit: £14,250.00.  If your wealth is below this, the local authority will fund social care.
  
• Wealth between £23,250.00 and £14,250.00?
  • You will be required to make a contribution for every £250.00 over £14,250.00, you will be required to pay £1.00 per week towards social care fees.
• Income Assessment: your income will also assessed.

Scotland

• Upper Capital Limit: £35,500.00.  If your wealth is above this, you will be required to self fund social care.
• Lower Capital Limit: £22,000.00.  If your wealth is below this, the local authority will fund social care.
  
• Wealth between £35,500.00 and £22,000.00?
  • You will be required to make a contribution for every £250.00 over £22,000.00, you will be required to pay £1.00 per week towards social care fees.
• In addition to all of the above, if you are over 65 years and assessed as needing to go into a care home you can claim up to £171.00 per week for social care and up to £78.00 per week for nursing care.  This is paid by the local authority direct to the care home.
• Income Assessment:  your income will also assessed.

Wales

• Upper Capital Limit: £50,000.00.  If your wealth is above this, you are required to self fund social care.
• Lower Capital Limit: £50,000.00.  If your wealth is below this, the local authority will fund social care.
• Wales' lower limit is the same as its upper limit.  This means there is no contribution for wealth below £50,000.00.
• If relatives have savings above £50,000.00 you/they will have to fund care fees.
• If relatives have savings below £50,000.00 you/they will not have to fund care fees.
• Income Assessment:  your income will also assessed.

6.  Example

If someone has £10,000/year in pension income and receives local‑authority funding:

• Most of that income is used to pay towards care fees.
• They keep their nation’s PEA/MIA:
• England: £31.80/week
• Scotland: £37.65/week
• Wales: £46.35/week
• Northern Ireland: £34.10/week

7.  Summary

Contact  Book Appt  Calculators  Our Fees