NHS-funded nursing care (FNC) | Eligibility and rates

NHS-funded nursing care (FNC) is when you need to move into a nursing home and the NHS contributes towards your fees by paying a flat rate directly to the care home.

FNC is an option if you do not qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding.

What is NHS-funded nursing care?

Receiving NHS-funded nursing care in care homes means the NHS will cover any fees related to the nursing or medical care you receive from a registered nurse during your stay.

This could be anything from planning your nursing care to carrying out specific tasks.

FNC is not means tested, so your income and savings have no bearing on whether you can get it or not. It does not matter if you are a self-funder or if your local authority is paying for your care.

In England and Wales, FNC is funded by the NHS through your nursing home’s local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). In Northern Ireland, your local Health and Social Care Trust (HSC) will make the nursing care contributions.

Local authorities in Scotland make personal and nursing care payments to the care home if the resident is funding their stay themselves and if they have been assessed as having personal or nursing care needs.

How much is NHS-funded nursing care in 2025/26?

The FNC contribution rate depends on where you live in the UK and is different for each country. The amount is paid weekly to your nursing home. 

The current weekly rates for NHS funded nursing care in England are standard rate £254.06 and higher rate £349.50

This is an increase of 7.7% from 2024/25 

You will only receive the higher rate if you qualified for the highest FNC rate before October 2007 and continue to do so.

FNC in 2024/25

Scotland: £111.90 per week for nursing care and/or £248.70 for personal care

Wales: £201.74 per week

Northern Ireland: £100 per week

If you are paying for your own social care, this amount may be deducted from your bill. However, in some cases FNC may be paid to the care home in addition to the fees stated to you, to make it possible to cover the cost of additional care required.

You should speak with the individual care home to find out whether the fees quoted are before or after the deduction of the Registered Nursing Care Contribution, and they will explain whether receiving FNC reduces your bill or not. It’s a good idea to also check your contract with the care home. This will include details of how the funding will work in your specific circumstances. 

Does FNC affect other benefits?

FNC does not affect your entitlement to any other benefits except if you are in Scotland and receive a personal care allowance.

If this is the case, you will not be entitled to Attendance Allowance, the care component of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment after the first four weeks.

What are the eligibility criteria for NHS-funded nursing care?

You may qualify for NHS-funded nursing care if the following is true:

• You live in a care home which is registered to provide nursing care
• You are not eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare but have been assessed as needing care from a registered nurse

How do you get assessed?

Before you can start to receive FNC payments, you must first be assessed to determine whether you are eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare, which will cover your care home fees.

Usually, this happens automatically as the professionals caring for you should start the assessment process in certain situations, such as if your physical or mental health deteriorates rapidly or following discharge from hospital.

If you are already living in a nursing home, your eligibility should be considered when your nursing needs are reviewed annually.

You can also request to have an assessment – speak to your nursing home manager, care worker or GP to have it arranged.

The assessment for NHS Continuing Healthcare looks at your care needs, so you would normally not need a separate assessment for NHS-funded nursing care. It is carried out in two stages by a multidisciplinary team to determine if you have a ‘primary health need’.

If you do not qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare, you may instead be eligible for FNC. The NHS, or the Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland, will then arrange and fund the care provided by registered nurses at your care home.

When does NHS-funded nursing care stop?

There are a couple of scenarios where the NHS will stop contributing towards your nursing care fees:

• You have to go into hospital – you will then receive free nursing care. You will likely have to keep paying the care home to keep your place
• You no longer require nursing care
• You become entitled to NHS Continuing Healthcare instead

There are various ways to fund your care and receive help with care home costs. Read our Care home fees advice for more information.

Further reading

Helping a loved one move into a care home can be overwhelming as it is often necessary due to their health deteriorating rapidly. Having to make decisions quickly can be difficult, especially if you are unsure of what your options are. Explore our care advice section for advice and information about anything related to moving into a care home.

• When is the right time for someone to move into a care home? – Tips and advice on when a loved one may have to move into a care home, including a personal account from a woman whose husband moved into a care home.
• When should someone with dementia move into a care home? – Caring for a loved one with dementia at home can be difficult, but it can also be hard to let go and know when they need to go into a care home to receive 24-hour care.
• How to choose a care home for someone with dementia – Choosing a care home for a family member with dementia comes with its challenges. This page has tips and advice on what to think about.
• What is the difference between a care home and a nursing home? – One of the most commonly asked questions about care homes. Read our article on what ‘care home’ actually means.