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Frank's Law extended free personal care in Scotland from over-65s to ALL adults who need it, effective from April 2019. Named after footballer Frank Kopel, it covers personal hygiene, eating, medication, and mobility assistance — regardless of age, income, or savings. England means-tests all personal care. Accommodation costs in care homes remain means-tested.
Frank's Law is shorthand for the extension of Free Personal Care (FPC) to all adults in Scotland who need it, regardless of age. It came into force on 1 April 2019 and represents one of Scotland's most distinctive social policy divergences from England.
What is Free Personal Care? FPC means that the Scottish Government pays for personal care services — help with washing, dressing, eating, medication management, and mobility — without the individual contributing from their own income or assets. It applies whether you receive care at home, in a care home, or in a sheltered housing setting.
The Frank Kopel story. Frank Kopel was a former Dundee United footballer who developed Alzheimer's disease in his 50s. His wife Amanda campaigned to extend Scotland's existing FPC (which only covered over-65s) to younger adults like Frank. After Frank's death in 2014, Amanda continued the campaign. The Frank's Law Bill passed unanimously in 2019.
Scotland vs England. In England, personal care is means-tested. Your savings and assets are assessed; you contribute to care costs if you have assets above £14,250 (reduced contribution) or above £23,250 (full costs). There is no upper threshold in England — costs continue until savings are depleted to £23,250. Scotland's FPC means the personal care element is fully funded regardless of wealth.
What is NOT free. The accommodation element of care home costs — room, board, and hotel services — is still means-tested in Scotland. Care homes charge a weekly "hotel costs" fee (typically £700–£1,200/week) that is means-tested against your income and assets. FPC only covers the nursing and personal care component.
The financial value. The FPC payment rates in 2026/27 are approximately £235/week for personal care and £100/week for nursing care. For someone in a care home needing both, this represents approximately £17,420/year of publicly funded care.
Practical steps. To access FPC, you or your family must request a community care assessment from your local council's social work department. The assessment determines your eligible care needs. Once assessed, the council arranges and funds the personal care elements.
Request a community care assessment from your local council's social work department. You can do this yourself, or a family member or carer can request it on your behalf. The assessment is free. Once your needs are assessed, the council arranges appropriate services. There is no minimum age following Frank's Law — any adult with eligible care needs can apply.
Yes — FPC applies to care provided at home too. If you are assessed as needing personal care assistance at home (e.g. a home carer visiting to help with washing, dressing, and medication), the personal care element of this cost is covered. You do not pay for the personal care tasks themselves, though you may contribute to accommodation or social care costs based on a financial assessment.
Only the accommodation element of care home fees is means-tested. If you own a property and need residential care, the council may take your property value into account for accommodation costs — though only after the first 12 weeks, and your primary home is disregarded if a spouse or dependent relative lives there. The personal care element is always free. Getting early legal and financial advice before entering residential care is strongly recommended.