The £1,300 bill hitting Brits - and how to check eligibility to cut costs to £0

Paying for care is fast becoming one of the biggest financial shocks in later life, with average fees now topping £1,300 a week. Yet thousands of families are still footing the bill when the NHS may be able to help. If someone's health needs are complex and ongoing, the NHS can cover all care costs through a scheme called NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC). Many people are completely unaware that it exists, and the result is that many families drain savings or sell homes unnecessarily to pay the staggering fees.

CHC is a package of care arranged and fully funded by the NHS for people in England and Wales with significant health needs. It can cover care home fees, nursing care, or care in your own home. Crucially, it isn't means-tested, which means your income and savings will not affect your eligibility.

Yes, the system for claiming it can feel like wading through treacle, and families often only hear about CHC after spending months or years paying privately. But if someone meets the criteria, the NHS must cover their care costs in full, regardless of wealth.

The process begins with an initial checklist, followed by a full assessment if needed. Decisions are based on medical needs, including mobility, cognition, medication, and whether round-the-clock supervision is needed. There's also an option to reclaim money already spent on care that should have been NHS-funded.

Retrospective claims can go back several years, and successful applications receive a refund of fees paid out of pocket. I've spoken to a few families who have had success reclaiming - one managed to recover around £90,000.

Unfortunately, the family already had to sell their father's home to fund the eye-watering £5,000-a-week nursing home fees before they qualified for CHC, but the five-figure recovery sum was still welcomed.

Speaking about his experience recovering fees, Ian Royale from Cheshire told me: "It's very difficult and in theory, you can do it yourself, but we found it helps to have a lawyer on board because they know the processes. Although you have to pay for it, if you're successful, it's well worth it."

With annual costs exceeding £67,000 for many, securing the right funding can make an enormous difference. If you or a loved one is in long-term care or approaching that stage, it's worth checking if NHS CHC could apply. Free, independent advice is available from Beacon, a not-for-profit organisation specialising in Continuing Healthcare. Visit beaconchc.co.uk or call their free helpline on 0345 548 0300.

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DEAL OF THE WEEK

Bella Italia is kicking off Christmas early with its new festive menu, and it's offering big savings. Diners can enjoy Festive Fivers from November 18 to 21 - seasonal favourites like Christmas Carbonara, Camembert Pizza and Veggie Pasta for just £5 each (usually £14-17). Sign up for your voucher via the Bella Italia website. More offers include £15 off £30 spends until November 16, and £1 prosecco on November 28.

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Do you have a Tesco Clubcard? The supermarket giant is urging shoppers to check their accounts, as £16.5million worth of Clubcard Vouchers are set to expire on November 30.

The vouchers are valid for two years, so it's worth seeing if you've got any remaining before they vanish at midnight.

You can use them to cut the cost of your weekly shop or fuel, or swap them for up to double their value with more than 100 Clubcard Reward Partners. Current offers include the new "Tesco Tuesdays" deal with Cineworld, where members can get Tuesday cinema tickets for £5 (or pay with £2.50 in Clubcard vouchers).

In another "triple value" offer, customers can exchange £10 in vouchers for £30 off food at PizzaExpress.

Tesco's loyalty boss Shama Wilson says the value of vouchers expiring this quarter is "higher than usual", so check your account and cash in if you can.

If you've been meaning to sign up for a loyalty card, see this as your nudge to do it. With grocery price inflation running at around 4.7%, every discount helps.

Most major supermarkets run their own schemes similar to Tesco. For example, Sainsbury's Nectar lets you earn points and get member-only price cuts - sometimes up to 50% off.

Other loyalty schemes available include Morrisons More Card, Lidl Plus, Asda Rewards, Co-op Membership, MyWaitrose, M&S Sparks, and Iceland Bonus Card.

You can easily sign up for these online or pick up a form in-store to apply.