If supported living seems like the right choice for you or your loved one, don’t let the costs worry you too much. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to access help with paying for rent, care costs, and even the general costs of daily living.

In this guide, we’ll look at who pays for supported living, and the different types of costs you’ll pay if you choose to move to supported accommodation.

What is supported living?

Supported living schemes allow people with care needs to live as independently as possible. 

You may also hear supported living being called assisted living, independent living, sheltered housing, or supported accommodation. 

If you have very high support needs, you might find that a care home is a better fit for you. Find Your Room can help you choose the perfect care home. 

Do you have to pay for sheltered housing in England?

Most people do have to pay for sheltered housing or supported living in England. Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for some support with the costs, but you will need to contribute towards payments as well. 

How much does it cost to live in supported living in England?

The cost of supported living schemes varies across England. In line with property prices, accommodation is likely to be more expensive in London and the South East, and your costs may also be higher if you need a larger home or have extensive care needs. 

Factors that affect your costs will include:

  • Location: Property costs are usually higher in London and the South East. 
  • Care needs: The care you receive in a supported living scheme depends on your own needs. If you need care workers to support you throughout the day and night, you’ll pay more than someone who only needs a quick visit from carers a couple of times a week. 
  • Services included: Assisted living schemes may offer services like meals, housekeeping, activities, and transport – however, these may come at an extra cost. 
  • Facilities available: Some supported living schemes are simply a house, bungalow, or apartment, whereas others are part of larger complexes that include facilities like cafes, gyms, shops, and hair salons. If you’re looking to move to an assisted living complex with a variety of amenities on site, costs will probably be higher. 
  • Additional charges: Some supported living schemes may include additional costs like service charges, management fees, or extra costs when you leave the property. Make sure that you ask about these additional charges before making the decision to move to a supported living home.

Assisted living costs and how to pay them

When you move to a supported living scheme, you’ll generally need to pay three types of cost:

  • Housing costs, including your rent, council tax, and service charges, which usually cover the maintenance and management of the building and grounds.
  • Care costs, which will usually cover any personal or companionship care you need, as well as support with housekeeping and administrative tasks.
  • Daily living costs, such as paying for your utility bills, food shopping, and transport.

When you choose to move to a supported living scheme, the staff should explain these costs to you fully. However, they might not explain how you can get help with paying them. So, let’s look at these assisted living costs in more detail, and talk about how you can find support to pay them.

How can I get help with my rent in supported living?

When you move to a supported living scheme, you’ll usually need to pay your rent and housing costs directly to the organisation that manages your property. You’ll also pay council tax to your local authority.

There are several ways that you can fund your rent and housing costs in assisted living, including:

  • Housing Benefit: If you have under £16,000 in savings, Housing Benefit can help you pay your rent. Depending on your circumstances, they may pay part or all of your rent. It’s being replaced by Universal Credit, but many people living in supported accommodation can still receive Housing Benefit. You may be eligible for Housing Benefit if you’re over State Pension age, or you’re living in supported housing where you receive care, support, or supervision. You can apply for Housing Benefit through your local council.
  • Universal Credit: If you’re eligible for Universal Credit, you may qualify for money towards your rent and housing costs. To be eligible for Universal Credit, you must be an adult under State Pension age, living in the UK, with less than £16,000 in savings. You can apply for Universal Credit online. However, if your supported living scheme provides your care and support, you won’t be eligible for the housing element of Universal Credit and should apply for Housing Benefit instead.
  • Discretionary Housing Payment: If you can’t cover your rent and housing costs, your local council may be able to help with a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP). This can cover a shortfall in rent, or the higher cost of an initial deposit. You can’t use a DHP to pay your council tax, though. You’ll need to contact your local council to apply for a DHP.
  • Council Tax Reduction: You may qualify for a Council Tax Reduction due to your income or health conditions. Contact your local council to find out if you’re eligible.
  • Self-funding: If you don’t qualify for any extra support, you’ll need to pay your rent and housing costs out of your own income or savings. 

How can I get help with my care costs?

If you’re moving to a supported living scheme, you probably need some support from care workers. Depending on your individual needs, this could be a support worker coming in once a day to help with housework and food preparation, or it could be more extensive support, including personal care.

Support workers will come to your home and provide care for a certain number of hours each week. The price will depend on the cost of home care services in your area, and the amount of care hours that you need. 

In most supported living schemes, care costs aren’t included in your rent – unlike in care and nursing homes. However, your assisted living property may have support workers on site who will provide your care. If not, you can use a local care agency or hire a personal assistant directly.

There are a few ways you can pay for your care costs:

  • Self-funding: You can pay your care costs out of your own income or savings.
  • Local authority support: If your savings and assets are less than £23,250, and your local authority has assessed you as needing care, they may fund all of part of your care costs. 
  • NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding: If you have a primary health need, rather than simply social care needs, NHS Continuing Healthcare may cover the costs of your care. 
  • Attendance Allowance: If you’re over state pension age and need regular supervision or help with your personal care, you may be eligible for Attendance Allowance. This is a non-means-tested benefit, so you may qualify for Attendance Allowance even if you have savings. You can spend this money on your care, or other costs that make your life easier – for example, getting food delivered or hiring taxis. You can apply for Attendance Allowance online.

Check out our longer article on care funding to find out more about paying for care costs. 

How can I get help with my daily living costs?

When you live in an assisted living scheme, you’ll need to pay for many of your own daily living costs – just the same as people who live in the wider community. Depending on your needs, this will probably include your utility bills, food, toiletries, activities, transportation, subscriptions and memberships, and much more. 

You can pay for your daily living costs in several ways, including:

  • Universal Credit: If you’re an adult under State Pension age with less than £16,000 in savings, you may be eligible for Universal Credit. If you have a health condition that limits your ability to work, you may be able to get an extra amount of Universal Credit. Your money will be paid into your bank account once a month, and you can use it to cover your daily living costs.
  • State Pension: If you’re over State Pension age and have made National Insurance contributions, you should be eligible for the State Pension. If you’re eligible for the State Pension, you’ll get a letter in the post around four months before you reach State Pension age. You can use your State Pension money for any type of spending.
  • Carer’s Allowance: If you look after someone for more than 35 hours a week, you may be eligible for Carer’s Allowance. You can use this money for your daily living costs. Apply for Carer’s Allowance online. If you’re already claiming your State Pension, you won’t be paid any Carer’s Allowance. 
  • Attendance Allowance: If you receive Attendance Allowance, you can use this money for your day-to-day spending, as well as for funding your care.
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP): If you’re under the State Pension age and have a long-term illness or disability, you may be eligible for PIP. You may be able to apply online, over the phone, or by post.
  • Self-funding: You may be able to pay your daily living costs out of your income or savings, or with support from family members or friends.

If you already live alone or with a partner, you may have a good idea of your daily living costs. If you’re moving out for the first time, you’ll need to work out what these costs will look like for you. 

How can I find out what my daily living costs will be?

  • Ask staff or other residents in the supported living scheme for a rough breakdown of daily living costs. They will probably have similar utility bills to you, if they live in the same property.
  • If you currently live with your parents or other family members, ask them how much they spend on your food, clothing, toiletries, subscriptions, and other costs each month or week. 

Am I eligible to claim benefits?

Many people think that they’re not eligible to claim benefits. They might think this because they have savings or an income, or because they’re under state pension age, or because they’ve heard that their friends or family aren’t eligible to claim benefits.

However, you may still qualify for help from the government or local authority. 

Did you know that some benefits aren’t means-tested? This means that it doesn’t matter how much money you have – if you meet the criteria, you can still receive them. 

Some non-means-tested benefits include:

  • Attendance Allowance 
  • Carer’s Allowance 
  • Personal Independence Payment
  • State Pension

To find out if you’re entitled to claim any benefits, you can use a benefits calculator online. You can also talk to a benefits adviser at Citizens Advice, or find a local benefits adviser. 

Purchasing a supported living home

In some supported living schemes, you may have the option to purchase your home. If you’re planning to buy a supported living property, you would usually need to do this from your savings or income, just as if you were buying any other house or apartment. 

Once you’ve purchased an assisted living home, you won’t need to pay rent. However, you will still need to consider other costs, such as:

  • Council tax
  • Service charges, which may go up each year
  • Care costs, which may increase in line with your care needs
  • Utility bills and other daily living costs

Conclusion: Paying for supported living in England

Many people worry about how they’ll pay assisted living costs. It can be difficult to see what exactly you’ll need to pay, and how you’ll raise the money for it. 

However, if you’re considering moving to supported accommodation, the scheme should provide you with a comprehensive breakdown of your costs. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to fund a lot of your housing, care, and daily living costs through benefits, too.

If you or a loved one are interested in moving to a supported living property, Find Your Room can help. Check out our database of currently-available supported living properties, and find the perfect home for you.