In this article
Who pays, in one paragraph
Three sources can meet a nursing fee at Bridge House in 2026/27, and one placement can draw on more than one of them. If an assessment shows a registered nurse is needed, the NHS sends £267.68 a week straight to the home, and that amount comes off the bill. Sutton Council may cover some or all of the remainder where the person holds less than £23,250 in capital. Whatever is still owing comes from the resident's own income. For people with very high health needs, the NHS may take on the entire fee through Continuing Healthcare.
Which council is responsible
Sutton Council only assesses people who already live in its borough; the test is where someone ordinarily lives, and the address of the care home does not change it. That takes in Wallington, Carshalton, Hackbridge, Beddington, Sutton, Cheam, Belmont and Worcester Park. A parent moving to Bridge House from Purley or Waddon stays with Croydon, one from Mitcham stays with Merton, and one from Banstead or Tadworth stays with Surrey County Council. Rates and deferred payment schemes differ from one council to the next, so settle this point first.
Step one: the needs assessment
Start by asking Sutton adult social care for a needs assessment under the Care Act 2014. There is no charge, whatever the person has saved, and the request can come from them, a relative, their GP or the ward team at St Helier Hospital. The assessor looks at daily tasks, the help required, and whether nursing is needed or residential care would do. Self-funders should still book one. It puts the level of care on record, and the council will need it before it pays towards anything in future.
Step two: the financial assessment and the 2026/27 figures
| Figure | 2026/27 | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Upper capital limit | £23,250 | Above this, the person self-funds. |
| Lower capital limit | £14,250 | Below this, capital is ignored. |
| Tariff income | £1 a week per £250 | Notional income on capital between the limits. |
| Personal expenses allowance | About £31.80 a week | Kept by a council-funded resident; confirm with Sutton. |
| NHS-funded nursing care | £267.68 a week | Paid by the NHS to the home; not means-tested. |
Savings and investments count as capital, and so, in most cases, does the family house. If a husband, wife, partner or certain other relatives still live there, its value is left out. Otherwise the house is ignored for the first twelve weeks of a permanent placement, after which Sutton must offer a deferred payment agreement to anyone who qualifies. The fees are then repaid from the estate later, with interest and an administration charge, so nobody has to sell during the person's lifetime. On the income side nearly everything is counted, including state and private pensions and Pension Credit. Attendance Allowance counts too, until it stops 28 days into council funding.
Council rates and third-party top-ups
Sutton funds a nursing placement up to a rate it sets itself. Families are free to pick any suitable home with a room available, but where the fee is above that rate, the gap has to be covered by a relative or other third party as a top-up. Expect the council to test whether that person can keep paying for years rather than months. Get Sutton's current rate in writing, and get the top-up figure from the home, before you sign. Residents can rarely top up from their own money; the exceptions are the twelve-week disregard and a deferred payment agreement.
NHS Continuing Healthcare
Continuing Healthcare is the route where the primary reason for care is a health need that is complex, intense or unpredictable. The South West London integrated care board arranges it, and if the person is eligible the NHS meets the whole fee. A ward team at St Helier, a GP or a social worker can complete the first-stage checklist, and a positive result leads to a full assessment. A fast track applies when someone is declining quickly. Few nursing home residents are found eligible, yet it costs nothing to ask for the checklist, and families can appeal a refusal.
Self-funding in Sutton
Anyone in Sutton holding more than £23,250 pays the fee in full until their capital drops to that figure. Contact the council for a financial assessment several months ahead of that date, as funding may not be backdated. While self-funding, the resident still gets NHS-funded nursing care if a nurse is needed, keeps Attendance Allowance and can ask for a Continuing Healthcare checklist. A needs assessment done now also gives Sutton a record to work from when the money runs down.
Benefits that carry on
A self-funder goes on receiving Attendance Allowance because it is not means-tested, and Pension Credit can carry on as well. If a husband or wife remains at home, the council assesses only the resident's share of joint income, so raise this early and ask what the partner at home can claim. Age UK Sutton and Citizens Advice Sutton both help with these claims.
What to ask Bridge House before signing
Before a move, ask us for the weekly fee and what it covers, how the NHS-funded nursing care deduction appears on the invoice, how much notice comes with a fee review, and which of our 36 single rooms is on offer. The council's funding decision, or your confirmation that the person is self-funding, should be settled first as well. Bridge House is a Grade II listed building on London Road in Wallington, on the River Wandle and opposite Beddington Park, so a visit is the best way to judge which room suits. Call 020 8647 8419 or use the contact form to arrange one, and ask for the figures in writing.
Key facts for Sutton families
- The London Borough of Sutton is the responsible council for Wallington, Carshalton, Hackbridge, Beddington, Sutton, Cheam, Belmont and Worcester Park.
- 2026/27 capital limits: £23,250 and £14,250; twelve-week property disregard; deferred payment agreements.
- NHS-funded nursing care: £267.68 a week, paid to the home. Continuing Healthcare pays the full fee for the highest needs.
- Ask Bridge House to confirm the fee and the NHS deduction in writing. Call 020 8647 8419.
Where to go next
Sources: Social care charging 2026 to 2027 (GOV.UK) · NHS-funded nursing care (NHS) · London Borough of Sutton · Paying for a care home (Age UK)
A question about care? Our team is here to help.
Talk to our team