You receive the same ‘personal expenses allowance’ (PEA) whether you are in a local authority or an independent care home and whether it is on a temporary or permanent basis. In England it is set at £31.80 a week; in Northern Ireland it is £34.10; in Scotland it is £37.65 and in Wales it is called the ‘minimum income amount’ and is set at £46.35 a week.

Your PEA can be spent as you wish on personal items. Neither the care home nor the local authority can demand that you spend your PEA in any particular way.

The PEA should not be used for care that has been contracted for by the local authority and/or assessed as necessary by the authority or the NHS. Needs for continence supplies or chiropody should be reflected in the care plan and there should be no pressure from local authorities or care home providers to spend your PEA on them. Your PEA can be used to buy extra services from the care home if they are genuinely additional to services that have been cont