If you need a short break or respite in a care home

We will not include the value of your home in your financial assessment if you need a short break or a respite care stay in a care home. We may take the value of your home into account if you need temporary care in a care home for more than 52 weeks.

We will make allowances for your essential ongoing living costs while you are in temporary care unless these are covered by benefits.

If you receive benefits, there are some things you must do to avoid overpayment while you are in respite care. You must tell the Department for Work and Pensions so that they can adjust your entitlements. For example, Personal Independence Payments, Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance will stop after four weeks in care.

You must also tell your local council if you receive benefits for housing tax and/or council tax. These may be affected if you stay in a care home for more than 13 weeks.  

Your partner’s benefits or benefit entitlements may also be affected while you have a short break or respite care. Partners should talk to:

• the Department for Work and Pensions about benefits they may be entitled to
• their local council about a council tax reduction if they will be living alone while you are in temporary care.