How to Move to a Care Home in a Different Area (UK Guide for Self-Funders and Local Authority-Funded Individuals)

Key Takeaways:

• What happens when you move care homes across local authority boundaries

• Steps for self-funders vs local authority-funded individuals

• What happens when moving between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

• What happens when moving back to the UK from abroad

• Key legal duties (Care Act 2014, ordinary residence, continuity of care)

• Differences in how local authorities operate

How Moving to a New Care Home in a Different Area Works

Moving to a new care home in a different region involves a process focused on maintaining continuity of care and sorting out funding responsibilities between the respective local authorities involved. The exact procedure depends on whether you are privately funding your care or receiving funding from your local authority.

Process for Self-Funders

If you choose to privately fund your care, relocating to another area of the UK is much easier. The primary factor to consider will be affordability, as the costs of care homes can vary significantly across the UK. If you later qualify for local authority funding, the new council in your area will assume responsibility for your financial assessment and funding.

Step 1: Find a new care home

Locate a new care home in your desired location and check whether it can meet your unique care needs. TrustedCare.co.uk can provide free one-to-one assistance in finding a suitable care home across the UK.

Step 2: Review your contract

Carefully review the contract with your current care home to understand the notice period and any other Terms and Conditions.

Step 3: Arrange the logistics

Ensure that you have arranged all the necessary logistics ahead of your move.

Step 4: Notify relevant parties

Inform your GP, dentist, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and any other relevant parties about your change of address.

Step 5: The new local authority

The new local authority will now be responsible for your funding arrangements if your assets fall below the financial threshold.

Process for Local Authority-funded individuals

If your care is either partially or fully funded by the local authority, a ‘cross-border placement’ process is implemented to ensure continuity of care as mandated by law. The process of moving to a care home in a different area when local authority funding is required requires careful coordination between the respective councils.

Step 1: Notify Authorities

Both the current and new local authorities must be informed, either by you or someone representing you, about your intention to move.

Step 2: Information Sharing Between Councils

Your local authority must share your information, including your current care and support plan, with the new local authority.

Step 3: New Assessments

The new local authority will need to conduct a Care Needs Assessment and a Financial Assessment to determine your eligibility for their services and the amount you are required to contribute. These assessments will ensure that your new care plan is customised to meet your needs and any changes that have occurred due to your move.

What is a Care Needs Assessment?

A Care Needs Assessment is a free evaluation that determines the care and support you require, regardless of your financial situation. It identifies whether residential care is necessary or if alternative support options are available.

What is a Financial Assessment?

A Financial Assessment will be carried out if it is determined that you need residential care. The council will evaluate your income, savings and assets to determine how much you will need to contribute toward care costs.

It is important to note that funding thresholds vary across England, Scotland and Wales. Consequently, your eligibility for local authority funding in the new country will be reassessed in accordance with that country’s regulations.

Current Funding Thresholds in Each UK Nation (as of 2025):

Step 4: Continuity of Care (Care Act 2014)

The Care Act 2014 includes a ‘continuity duty’, which legally requires the new council to ensure that your care needs are met from day one, according to your original care plan, until they have completed their new assessments. Your care plan cannot be altered until a new assessment is agreed upon to ensure that there is no interruption to your care.

In the case of cross-border placements, the local authority that was responsible for your care prior to your move will continue to handle the funding, even after you relocate to a different area of the UK.

Step 5: When Funding Responsibility Changes

Typically, the new local authority will assume responsibility for covering the costs of your care. However, if your previous local authority placed you in an out-of-area home (perhaps due to a shortage of suitable care homes in the local area), the old local authority may still be responsible for your funding.

Impact on Free Personal Care (Scotland)

If you move from Scotland to England or Wales, you will lose your eligibility for free personal care and nursing care payments. Scottish local authorities may have specific residency duration requirements before you qualify for free personal and nursing care.

Personal care involves assisting individuals with their daily hygiene, grooming and fundamental physical health needs.

Nursing care encompasses a wide range of healthcare services provided by Registered Nurses (RGNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and nursing assistants. It involves various duties aimed at promoting health, preventing illness and caring for individuals with complex medical needs.

Moving to a UK care home after living abroad

If you plan to move to a care home in the UK after living abroad, it is essential to consider several factors. You cannot immediately access state-funded care, as local authorities usually require an in-person assessment. A key step in the process will be to establish your ‘ordinary residence’ with the local authority in your new area and to determine your financial eligibility for care services.

Step 1: Establishing ‘Ordinary Residence’

You need to be ‘ordinarily resident’ in a specific UK council area to qualify for local authority social care funding. This means you intend to settle and establish your main home in the UK for a ‘settled purpose’. Here are some key considerations:

• Evidence: Documents such as a UK address, even if it’s temporary, bank statements showing recent UK transactions, and utility bills.

• Waiting times: Typically, you must pass the Habitual Residence Test (HRT) with a usual wait time of 1-3 months; however, the wait may sometimes take longer.

• Return plan: It is essential to plan your return to the UK carefully to ensure your move goes as smoothly as possible. You may consider temporarily staying with family or privately funding a respite stay at a care home. This can help you establish your residence while you wait for your assessments.

Step 2: Arranging Temporary Private Care

Since local authorities are only required to conduct a Care Needs Assessment in person once you are physically in the area, it is essential to be prepared for delays between your move to the UK and the availability of funding from local authorities.

Initially Self-fund: To prevent any unwanted financial stress, it is advisable to plan for privately funding your care while waiting for your local authority to determine funding eligibility.

Find a Care Home: TrustedCare.co.uk provides free, expert assistance for those seeking a care home in the UK. Their friendly team of Care Advisers will take time to understand your individual care needs and preferences, before providing you with a shortlist of suitable care homes in your desired area. They will have already checked the availability at these homes and ensured that they can meet your needs.

Step 3: Undergo Assessments

After officially moving to the UK and settling at your new address, contact your local council to request a Care Needs Assessment and a Financial Assessment. These assessments are provided at no charge.

The Care Needs Assessment will identify your individual care requirements, the support you need, and whether residential care is necessary. On the other hand, the Financial Assessment is conducted only if you are determined to need residential care. It evaluates your income, savings and assets to calculate how much you will need to contribute towards your care costs.

Step 4: How to Access the NHS After Returning

Your eligibility for free NHS hospital treatment depends on your ordinary residence status.

Register with a GP

It is important to register with a local GP in your new area to gain access to most NHS services. Be sure to bring your medical records from your previous country of residence and make sure you have enough medication to last until you can register with a GP in the new location.

Emergency Care

If a critical need arises, emergency medical treatment is available at an Accident & Emergency (A&E) department upon arriving in the UK.

Step 5: Seek Advice

We recognise that relocating to a care home in the UK from another country can be difficult. TrustedCare’s friendly team of Care Advisers is available to provide free assistance to anyone searching for a care home in the UK. Additionally, organisations such as Age UK and Independent Age offer specialised support for individuals returning from living abroad.

Do different local authorities operate in different ways?

Moving to a care home that requires a change in local authorities triggers specific legal duties and procedures designed to ensure a seamless transition and maintain continuity of care.

Ordinary Residence: The local authority where you will live assumes responsibility for your care and funding, except in certain cases where the original authority placed you outside their area initially.

Continuity of Care Duty: The Care Act 2014 in England establishes a ‘continuity duty’ for new local authorities. This means that they must ensure your care needs are addressed immediately upon your arrival and cannot disrupt your care while they carry out their own assessments.

Possible differences among Local Authorities

• ‘Usual Cost’ Rates - The standard rate that local authorities pay for state-funded care can vary, meaning that your new local authority may offer higher or lower rates than your previous one. This variation could impact the range of available homes without needing a third-party top-up.

• Assessment Speed - Planning ahead is crucial, because the efficiency of various local authority departments can vary.

• Local Market - The availability and types of care homes can vary a lot between different council areas.

Practical considerations

• Trial Stays: You may want to consider arranging a respite stay at the care home you are interested in to ensure it’s the right place for you, and so that you can familiarise yourself with the environment and staff.

• Logistics: Think about things like what day would be best to move (ideally earlier in the week to avoid weekend problems) and inform all necessary parties about your move.

• Advocacy: If you disagree with the local authorities' assessment verdict, you may find an independent advocate helpful.