Care Funding in Northern Ireland: How the System Works

Topic cluster: Regional Care Home Guides | Reading time: 5 min

Care funding in Northern Ireland operates under a different system from England, Scotland, and Wales. The Health and Social Care (HSC) system in Northern Ireland integrates health and social care in a way that does not exist elsewhere in the UK, which creates both similarities and differences in how care is funded and accessed. This guide explains how care home funding works in Northern Ireland, what financial thresholds apply, and how to navigate the system.

The Integrated Health and Social Care System

In Northern Ireland, health and social care are integrated through five Health and Social Care Trusts:

Belfast HSC Trust
Northern HSC Trust
South Eastern HSC Trust
Southern HSC Trust
Western HSC Trust

Unlike in England — where the NHS and local authority social care are separate — in Northern Ireland, a single HSC team assesses both health and social care needs. This can simplify the process but also means the system operates according to its own rules.

Care Home Types in Northern Ireland

Care homes in Northern Ireland are categorised as:

Residential care homes — for people needing personal care but not nursing
Nursing homes — for those needing registered nurse involvement in their care
Dual-registered homes — providing both residential and nursing care
Specialist dementia / mental health units — including Enhanced Mental Illness (EMI) units

Care Home Costs in Northern Ireland (2026)

Type of Care	Weekly Fee Range
Residential care	£650–£950
Nursing care	£800–£1,200
Specialist dementia care	£850–£1,300

Northern Ireland generally has lower care home fees than England (especially London and the South East), making it one of the more affordable parts of the UK for self-funders.

Financial Assessment in Northern Ireland

The capital threshold in Northern Ireland differs from England:

Capital above £23,250: Expected to self-fund care (same as England)
Capital between £14,250 and £23,250: Sliding scale contribution
Capital below £14,250: No contribution from capital required

However, property value calculation differs from England in practice. As of 2026, the Northern Ireland Executive has been reviewing the capital thresholds — check with your local HSC Trust for the most current figures.

Excluded assets: As in England, the value of a property is disregarded for the first 12 weeks of care home residence, and indefinitely if a qualifying dependent (spouse, civil partner, dependent child) continues to live there.

Assessment Process in Northern Ireland

Referral — contact the relevant HSC Trust's adult social care team, or ask the GP or hospital to refer
Needs assessment — carried out by an HSC social worker; determines care needs and whether they can be met at home or require residential care
Financial assessment — means test carried out by the HSC Trust
Placement — if eligible for HSC-funded care, the Trust will identify a suitable placement or contribute to the cost of a chosen home

Waiting times for assessment and placement can be significant in Northern Ireland. Demand for both assessment and publicly funded placements exceeds supply in many areas.

NHS Care in Northern Ireland

Because health and social care are integrated in Northern Ireland, the assessment for what in England would be called NHS Continuing Healthcare is carried out within the HSC system. People with complex nursing or healthcare needs can receive fully funded care — contact the HSC Trust for assessment.

Regulation of Care Homes in Northern Ireland

Care homes in Northern Ireland are regulated and inspected by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) — the equivalent of the CQC in England.

RQIA inspects care homes and publishes reports and grades. Search for care home inspection reports at: rqia.org.uk

Practical Steps for Northern Ireland Families

Contact the relevant HSC Trust to request a care needs assessment
Search RQIA for inspection reports on care homes you are considering
Visit shortlisted homes with a prepared list of questions
Seek independent financial advice if your parent is likely to be self-funding
Check whether a care annuity (immediate needs annuity) makes sense given the fees and expected duration of care

HSC Trust Contact Numbers:

Belfast HSC Trust: 028 9050 7000
Northern HSC Trust: 028 2563 5100
South Eastern HSC Trust: 028 9151 1000
Southern HSC Trust: 028 3741 4100
Western HSC Trust: 028 7186 5151

Finding care in Northern Ireland? homeformum.com helps families across the UK — including Northern Ireland — find quality care homes and navigate funding.