What is the Better Care Fund?

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about the Better Care Fund and its eligibility criteria. The services described may vary depending on local authorities and the individual needs of each person. For more detailed information or to find out about services in your area, we recommend contacting your local council or healthcare provider.

Support for Carers: Accessing Respite and Short Breaks Through the Better Care Fund

The Better Care Fund (BCF) is a major UK government programme designed to bring together health, social care, housing, and community services to work more closely and effectively for people who need care and support, especially older adults, people with long‑term conditions, and disabled people. It was first introduced to encourage local health and social care systems to integrate services so that care is more joined‑up, person‑centred, and better at helping people stay independent and well at home.

Rather than being a stand‑alone service, the Better Care Fund pools money from the NHS and local government into a single budget that local areas use to deliver integrated care and support. The idea is to shift the focus from crisis‑led treatment and hospital care to earlier support, community care, and prevention. This can include a wide range of services such as community health support, social care services at home, housing adaptations, and initiatives that reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.

The Better Care Fund is underpinned by a national policy framework which sets out objectives, planning arrangements and funding conditions for each year (e.g., 2025‑26). Local authorities and NHS integrated care boards work together to agree local BCF plans reflecting the needs and priorities of their communities.

Who Is Eligible?

Who Can Benefit from Services Funded by the Better Care Fund

The Better Care Fund itself doesn’t provide a simple “eligibility rule” the way a benefit payment does. Instead, it enables services that local authorities and health services deliver, and eligibility is normally determined locally based on individual needs.

Adults with care and support needs
If you have a long‑term condition, disability, frailty due to age, or need help with daily living activities, your local council’s assessment will decide whether you’re entitled to support services. This can include funded care at home, equipment or adaptations, or support to stay well and independent.
People with health needs are supporting independent living
The fund helps deliver community health services such as reablement (helping people recover skills after illness), therapy services, and support to avoid hospital admissions. All of these are based on clinical assessments.
Unpaid carers and families
The Better Care Fund contributes to support for unpaid carers, including services that give carers time off from their caring duties, such as short breaks and respite care. This support is usually accessed through local authority assessments.

Carer Support and Eligibility

Unpaid carers, people who care for a partner, relative or friend without being paid for it, can often get help through local services that are enabled by the Better Care Fund. Whilst the BCF itself doesn’t operate a separate eligibility threshold for carers, many forms of carer support services are available if you meet your council’s criteria:

Carer’s assessment: Local councils should offer a free carer’s assessment to look at your needs as a carer. This assessment determines what support is suitable for you and can include breaks from caring.
Respite and short breaks: Local social care services offer respite care and short breaks, allowing carers time off while the person they care for continues to receive appropriate support. Councils usually decide this based on the results of both a carer’s assessment and the cared‑for person’s needs assessment.
Additional support options: There are also grants, charity funds, and local schemes that help carers access holidays or short breaks, even where statutory social care alone might not cover the full cost.

How Support is Delivered

Because the Better Care Fund is administered locally, the type and level of services vary by area. Local integrated care boards and councils decide how to spend their pooled budget to meet agreed priorities, often shaped by local demographics and needs.

Typical services supported include:

Community and home care services that help people remain at home safely
Care coordination between health and social care professionals
Reablement services to help people regain independence after illness
Housing adaptations so homes are safer and more accessible
Support for unpaid carers, including short breaks and respite services

In Summary

The Better Care Fund is a central part of the UK’s drive to make health, housing, and social care services work better together. It helps ensure that people with care needs can get joined‑up support designed around their individual lives, and that unpaid carers have access to services that help them stay well and continue in their caring role. Whether it’s tailored care at home, help avoiding hospital stays, or regular short breaks to recharge, the Better Care Fund helps local authorities and NHS partners deliver practical support that makes a real difference day‑to‑day.