Quick Summary
- Free personal care for ALL adults in Scotland — not just over-65s, since Frank's Law came into force in 2019, extending free care to anyone who needs it regardless of age
- Covers essential daily tasks — personal hygiene, eating and drinking, continence management, medication, and mobility assistance
- Accommodation costs are still means-tested — the personal care is free, but if you live in a care home, your accommodation and food costs depend on your savings (below £22,000 = no charge)
- Use our free calculator — the Scotland Savings Calculator shows the total annual value of Scotland's free services for your household
Scotland is unique in the UK in providing free personal care to every adult who needs it, regardless of age, income, or savings. England means-tests all personal care. This difference can save families tens of thousands of pounds per year.
Quick Answer: Scotland provides free personal care to all adults who need help with daily tasks like washing, dressing, eating, and taking medication. This was extended from over-65s to all adults by Frank's Law in 2019. The care itself is free, but care home accommodation costs are means-tested based on your capital. To access free personal care, contact your local council's social work department for a needs assessment. England means-tests everything — Scotland only means-tests accommodation.
What is free personal care?
Free personal care covers the hands-on help someone needs with essential daily activities. It's provided by trained care workers, either in your own home or in a care home.
What's covered (free in Scotland)
- Personal hygiene — washing, bathing, showering, hair care, shaving
- Eating and drinking — help preparing and eating meals, feeding assistance
- Continence management — assistance with toileting, incontinence care
- Medication — help taking prescribed medication
- Mobility — help getting in and out of bed, moving around the home, using stairs
- Dressing — help getting dressed and undressed
- Communication — support for people with communication difficulties
What's NOT covered (still means-tested)
- Accommodation costs in a care home (rent, food, heating)
- Domestic help like cleaning, laundry, shopping (may be available separately)
- Nursing care that requires qualified nursing staff
- Equipment and adaptations (handled through separate schemes)
Frank's Law: the 2019 change that extended care to ALL adults
Before April 2019, free personal care in Scotland was only available to people aged 65 and over. Frank's Law — named after Frank Kopel, a Dundee United footballer who developed early-onset dementia — extended it to all adults regardless of age.
This means a 45-year-old with a disability, a 30-year-old recovering from a serious accident, or a 55-year-old with early-onset dementia all receive the same free personal care as an 85-year-old. No other UK nation offers this.
Try it yourself
Calculate the total annual value of free personal care and other Scotland-only benefits for your household.
Open Scotland Savings CalculatorNo sign-up required.
How much does free personal care save?
The exact saving depends on how much care someone needs, but the figures are significant:
| Hours of care per week | Annual saving vs England (approximate) |
|---|---|
| 5 hours | £5,000 – £7,000 |
| 10 hours | £10,000 – £14,000 |
| 20 hours | £20,000 – £28,000 |
| 24-hour care (care home) | £15,000 – £20,000 (personal care element only) |
In a care home, the Scottish Government pays a personal care rate (currently approximately £216/week) and a nursing care rate (approximately £97/week for those who need it) directly to the care home. Residents only pay for accommodation and food.
Care home costs: what IS means-tested
While personal care is free, care home accommodation costs are means-tested based on your capital (savings, investments, and in some cases property):
| Capital | What you pay for accommodation |
|---|---|
| Below £22,000 | Nothing — council pays in full |
| £22,000 – £35,500 | Partial contribution (tariff income calculation) |
| Above £35,500 | Full accommodation cost (until capital falls below £35,500) |
Your home is usually excluded from the capital assessment if your spouse, partner, or dependent relative still lives there. If the home is empty, it may be included after 12 weeks.
Scotland vs England: a stark comparison
| Feature | Scotland | England |
|---|---|---|
| Free personal care | Yes — ALL adults | No — means-tested |
| Capital threshold (care home) | £22,000 – £35,500 | £14,250 – £23,250 |
| Age restriction | None (since Frank's Law 2019) | N/A (all care is means-tested) |
| Personal care rate paid by government | ~£216/week | £0 (all means-tested) |
| Self-funder threshold | £35,500 | £23,250 |
Scotland's capital thresholds are significantly higher than England's (£35,500 vs £23,250 for the upper limit), AND the personal care element is free on top.
How to access free personal care
- Contact your local council's social work department — explain that you or a family member needs personal care
- Request a needs assessment — a social worker will assess what care is needed
- Care plan agreed — the council arranges care based on the assessment
- Care starts — provided by council staff or commissioned from a care provider
The assessment is free. You don't need a GP referral. Anyone can request an assessment for themselves or a family member.
If you disagree with the outcome of an assessment, you have the right to ask for a review. Your council must tell you how to do this. If the review doesn't resolve the dispute, you can escalate to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO).
Self-Directed Support: taking control of your care
Once your care needs are assessed, you don't have to accept whatever arrangement the council chooses. Scotland's Self-Directed Support (SDS) framework gives you four options:
Option 1 — Direct payment: The council pays you (or someone you nominate) a cash sum to purchase your own care. You choose who provides it, when, and how. This is the maximum flexibility option.
Option 2 — Individual service fund: The money is held by a third party (typically a support organisation), which handles payments on your behalf. You choose the care, they manage the administration.
Option 3 — Council-arranged care: The council arranges services on your behalf — the traditional model. You have less control but also less responsibility.
Option 4 — Mixture: You can mix options — for example, use a direct payment for some support and let the council arrange other elements.
SDS applies to all adults assessed as needing community care services, including free personal care. The cash value of your personal care entitlement doesn't change — what changes is how you use it. Many people find that taking a direct payment allows them to employ a personal assistant at hours that suit their lifestyle, rather than fitting around a care agency's schedule.
The Scottish Government provides a national helpline (0800 917 8000) and local SDS support organisations in every council area to help people navigate their options.
Try it yourself
See the full financial value of living in Scotland — including free personal care, prescriptions, and more.
Open Scotland Savings CalculatorNo sign-up required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be over 65 for free personal care in Scotland?
No. Since Frank's Law came into force in April 2019, free personal care is available to ALL adults in Scotland who need it, regardless of age. This is unique in the UK.
Does free personal care cover care homes?
The personal care element in a care home is free. However, accommodation costs (room, food, heating) are means-tested based on your capital. If your savings are below £22,000, the council pays the full accommodation cost.
Can I choose my own care provider?
Yes. You can request a Self-Directed Support (SDS) arrangement where you receive a budget and arrange your own care. This gives you more control over who provides care and when.
Is my house included in the means test?
Your home is usually excluded from the capital assessment if your spouse, partner, or dependent relative still lives there. If the home is unoccupied, it's typically excluded for the first 12 weeks, after which it may be included.
How long does it take to get a needs assessment?
Councils aim to complete assessments within 28 days of the request, though this varies. In urgent situations, interim care can be arranged more quickly.
What's the difference between personal care and nursing care?
Personal care covers help with daily living tasks (washing, dressing, eating, medication). Nursing care covers clinical procedures that require a registered nurse — for example, wound dressing, catheter care, or managing complex medical conditions. Both are free in Scotland when provided in a care home. In a home setting, personal care is free; nursing care at home is assessed and may be funded through NHS continuing healthcare.
What if I'm not happy with the care being provided?
You can ask the council to review your care plan at any time — or request a reassessment if your needs have changed. If you have a direct payment under SDS, you can change your care provider without going back to the council. For complaints about the quality of a council-commissioned service, contact the council's complaints team and, if unresolved, the Care Inspectorate (Scotland's independent regulator of care services).
Does free personal care affect any benefits I receive?
Free personal care payments from the council are not counted as income for benefits purposes. However, if you move into a care home and the council contributes to your accommodation costs, you may have your benefit entitlement reassessed. Attendance Allowance (or Adult Disability Payment's daily living component) normally stops after 28 days in a care home funded by the council.
Related Articles
- Everything Free in Scotland — the complete list with financial values
- Scottish Benefits Guide — all Scotland-only payments and how to claim
- Pension Drawdown Tax in Scotland — how pension withdrawals are taxed at Scottish rates
- Council Tax Scotland Guide — bands, rates, and Council Tax Reduction
- Scotland Savings Calculator — calculate your total Scottish benefits
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Tax rates and thresholds can change — always verify current rates with Revenue Scotland, HMRC, or mygov.scot, and speak to a qualified financial adviser for advice specific to your circumstances.
Sources: Scottish Government — Free personal and nursing care, mygov.scot — Help with personal care, Age Scotland — Free personal care factsheet