Social care in Sandwell is not funded in the same way as NHS treatment. The council first looks at whether you have eligible care and support needs, then carries out a financial assessment to decide whether you must pay anything towards longer-term support. That means two residents with similar care needs can pay different amounts depending on their finances.
What Sandwell says is free
Sandwell’s public guidance says some adult social care services are free because they help people stay independent. The council specifically lists:
- specialist equipment, some adaptations and telecare
- intermediate care and rehabilitation, including Fast Response and STAR
- some services for carers.
If you are leaving hospital or trying to regain independence after illness, this is an important distinction: short-term recovery support is often free even when longer-term care is not.
How Sandwell works out what you pay
For longer-term support, the council completes a financial assessment. This looks at your income, savings, capital and the type of service you need. Sandwell’s guidance says it will try to tell you your contribution before care starts.
On Sandwell’s current public page, the council states that if you have more than £23,250 in savings and capital you will usually have to pay the full cost of your support yourself. If your finances later fall below that level, you can ask the council to look at your case again.
Paying for care at home in Sandwell
The borough explains that home-based support can include personal care, help in the home, day care and outreach, supported living, Shared Lives, extra care and support arranged through direct payments. Sandwell does not usually charge you separately for every individual service. Instead, it works out one assessed contribution towards the support in your care plan.
Not everyone pays. Some residents pay nothing, some pay part of the cost, and some pay the full cost.
Paying for residential care
If you need a care home or nursing home, Sandwell says you can meet the cost yourself if you wish, but in many cases the council pays up to an agreed level and then asks you for a contribution based on national rules. The council’s page makes clear that you have the right to choose a home, but the amount the council will contribute is capped at an agreed level of costs.
If the NHS may pay instead
Sandwell also highlights a crucial exception: if your main need for care is a complex health need rather than a personal or social care need, the NHS may be responsible through NHS Continuing Healthcare. That can mean care is provided without a local authority contribution. If professionals think this might apply, they should discuss it with you.
What if you are a self-funder?
Even if you have to pay the full cost yourself, Sandwell says you can still ask for a care and support assessment and advice about services that might meet your needs. That can still be valuable because it gives you a clearer picture of the type of help you need and the local services available.
Local welfare rights and benefits help
Because care charging and benefits often overlap, Sandwell’s Welfare Rights Team can be just as important as the care team. The service offers free and impartial advice on benefits, help with forms, representation at appeal tribunals and support where benefits have stopped or been reduced.
- General welfare rights contact: 0121 569 3158
- Email: welfarerights_team@sandwell.gov.uk
- Sandwell says it aims to contact people within 10 working days of a referral.
Useful Sandwell links
- Paying for care and support
- Paying for care at home
- Paying for residential care
- Can I have adult social care services?
- Benefits advice – Welfare Rights Team
- Get advice about benefits
Last reviewed: 30 March 2026. Opening times, charges, referral routes, eligibility rules and commissioned services can change, so always use the linked Sandwell or NHS service before you travel, apply or rely on a phone number.
