Top-ups or third party top up payments
We will make sure your personal budget is enough to meet your care needs, however you may choose a care home that costs more than your personal budget.
This is your choice.
If this happens, another person (called a third party) can offer to pay the extra cost. This extra payment is called a top‑up.
Paying a top-up
The third party must agree to pay the extra amount
They must have an affordability check to make sure they can pay it. The top-up is paid on top of your personal budget.
You should always talk to your social worker about top-ups.
This helps make sure:
- you get the right care
- the costs are correct
- everyone understands what they need to pay
The third party top-up payments guide has more details about how this works.