We understand that families need clarity about legal costs before deciding whether to proceed.
Our NHS Continuing Healthcare services are offered on a fixed-fee basis, allowing you to understand the cost and scope of each stage from the outset.
You can choose the individual service that matches your circumstances, rather than committing immediately to full representation throughout the entire process.
All prices below are exclusive of VAT unless otherwise stated.
FAQs
How do I apply for NHS Continuing Healthcare?
The process usually starts with an NHS Continuing Healthcare Checklist, which helps decide whether a full assessment is needed. This can be requested through a GP, social worker, care home, hospital discharge team or the relevant NHS body. We can help you understand the process and prepare the right evidence before an assessment takes place.
What happens during a NHS CHC assessment?
If a full assessment is needed, a multidisciplinary team will review your loved one’s care needs using the Decision Support Tool. They will consider areas such as mobility, cognition, behaviour, nutrition, continence, medication, skin integrity and other health needs before making a recommendation on eligibility.
What is the difference between NHS Continuing Healthcare and social care funding?
NHS Continuing Healthcare is arranged and funded by the NHS for adults with a primary health need and is not means-tested. Social care funding is usually arranged by the local authority and is financially assessed, meaning savings, income and assets may be taken into account.
I am so pleased that I engaged Emerald Law to investigate the possibility that my aunt should have been eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding. Emerald Law discovered that this was in fact the case, have recovered a substantial amount of care fees and we have at last received our proper inheritance, just as my aunt had intended.
We are very grateful to Emerald Law for their professional advice and the very successful outcome, which has financially helped both families. We would especially like to thank Phil Turner who handled the case.
Our fees at a glance
Why seek legal support?
NHS Continuing Healthcare can be life-changing for families facing significant care costs, but accessing the funding is rarely straightforward.
Understanding the process
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Make an enquiry
Speak to an expert
Build the evidence
Begin the application
Make an enquiry either on behalf of yourself or your loved one and tell us about your situation. We'll review the situation and help you understand whether NHS Continuing Healthcare funding may be worth exploring.
A member of our specialist team will be in touch to arrange your initial free consultation. If we find you may have a viable case and you'd like to move forward, you can book an Eligibility Assessment & Action Plan meeting with one of our experts.
If you choose to proceed, we can help gather and review the relevant care records, medical evidence and supporting information needed to assess the strength of your case prepare you or your loved one for the application.
Once the evidence has been reviewed, we can then initiate the NHS Continuing Healthcare assessment and support you or your loved one through the process, including preparation, guidance and advocacy where required.
Absolutely amazing service!! So friendly and so helpful, it was the first time in a long time that I’ve got hope!! And now I know have rights and have a leg to stand on!! I cannot thank Angie enough for her help today.
I have just had some fantastic advice at Emerald Law I would highly recommend them.
Emerald Law, specifically Heather Boyd, have been extremely efficient and professional throughout the process. Any information has been passed on or received in a timely manner and I would recommend Emerald Law without reservation.
All in all great service and a competitive price, no complaints. Always available when needed, thank you Heather and Caitlin, you were excellent!
We are extremely grateful to Emarald Law for the excellent service they provided. They informed us through every step from beginning to end and the app was very useful too.
Clear communication throughout. Would use again.
I am so pleased that I engaged Emerald Law to investigate the possibility that my aunt should have been eligible for NHS Continuing Health Care funding. Emerald Law discovered that this was in fact the case, have recovered a substantial amount of care fees and we have at last received our proper inheritance, just as my aunt had intended.
We are very grateful to Emerald Law for their professional advice and the very successful outcome, which has financially helped both families. We would especially like to thank Phil Turner who handled the case.
What our clients say
The need for care is not decreasing
Age UK reports that 57% of people over 80 and 40% of people over 65 are living with a limiting long-term health condition. Yet the number of people newly assessed as eligible for Standard NHS Continuing Healthcare has fallen by 43% since 2017/18.
57%
Care needs remain high
57% of people over 80 and 40% of people over 65 are living with a limiting long-term health condition.
- Age UK, 2024
43%
Eligibility has fallen
The number of people newly assessed as eligible for Standard NHS Continuing Healthcare has fallen by 43% since 2017/18.
- Age UK, 2024
71%
Care costs are rising
Average nursing care costs have risen by around 71% since 2016, from £741 per week to £1,267 per week in 2026.
- Competition and Markets Authority, 2017; Age UK, 2026
16.7%
Few assessments succeed
Only 16.7% of Standard CHC assessments resulted in eligibility in Q4 2025/26. Out of 12,462, only 2,075 were considered eligible.
- NHS England, 2026
The process is difficult to navigate
NHS figures also show how difficult the process can be. In Q4 2025/26, only 16.7% of Standard NHS Continuing Healthcare assessments resulted in eligibility. Out of 12,462 assessments, just 2,075 people were found eligible.
How our legal team can help
For many families, the issue is not whether their loved one has serious care needs. The difficulty is understanding how those needs are assessed, evidenced and presented under the NHS Continuing Healthcare criteria.
Our legal team can help you navigate the process, prepare the right evidence, challenge incorrect decisions and make sure your loved one’s care needs are properly considered.
Could your loved one be eligible for funding?
Paying privately for residential or nursing care
Complex health conditions such as Dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or stroke-related illness
Repeated falls, mobility issues or high supervision needs
Complex medication, nutrition or continence needs
Pressure sores or skin integrity concerns
Distressed, challenging or unpredictable behaviour
Refused NHS CHC funding
Never properly assessed for NHS CHC funding
You do not need to know whether your loved one qualifies before speaking to us. That is what we can help you assess.
Not sure if this applies to your loved one?
Understanding eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding is rarely straightforward. A consultation with our experts will help you know where you stand.
Find out if your loved one could be eligible for NHS CHC funding
Free initial consultation
Full Eligibility & Action Plan meeting for less than a day's care fee
No obligation, fully confidential
If your loved one is paying privately for care and has significant health needs, it is worth seeking advice.
Clear action plan with next steps
Which services do I need?
Can I challenge a past NHS CHC decision?
Yes, in some cases. If your loved one was refused NHS Continuing Healthcare, you may be able to challenge the decision if needs were not properly considered, evidence was missed, or the criteria were not applied correctly. Time limits can apply, so it is important to seek advice promptly.
Can someone receive NHS CHC funding at home?
Yes. NHS Continuing Healthcare can fund care in a person’s own home, as well as in a care home, nursing home or other care setting. Eligibility depends on the person’s assessed health and care needs, not where they receive care.
How can you help with appeals?
We can review the decision, identify potential grounds of challenge, gather supporting evidence and help present your loved one’s needs clearly under the NHS Continuing Healthcare criteria. We can also support you through local resolution and, where appropriate, further review stages.
Can you help recover care fees that were wrongly paid?
Yes, where there may be grounds to argue that your loved one should have been assessed or found eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare during a past period of care. We can advise on whether a retrospective review may be possible and help prepare the evidence needed to pursue a claim.
© 2026 Emerald Law Solicitors Ltd. All rights reserved. Emerald Law is a trading name of Emerald Law Solicitors Ltd. Emerald Law Solicitors Ltd is a solicitors' practice registered in England & Wales (08837492) and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (No. 615452)
Our Fixed Fees
Service
Fee
Free
Initial free consultation
£1,800 +VAT
Complete Checklist Service
Eligibility Assessment & Action Plan
£250 +VAT
DST Representation Service
DST Assessment Support Service
Positive Checklist Consultation
Checklist Advocacy Service
£750 +VAT
£300 +VAT
£3,000 +VAT
£750 +VAT
£300 +VAT
Appeal Eligibility Assessment
Did you know?
A full eligibility consultation & action plan with Emerald Law costs the same as a day of care
Private nursing care costs are averaging at £181 per day in England (Age UK). For the same cost we offer a full 1-hour of tailored legal advice with a written action plan so that you know where you stand and what to do next.
This all starts with a free consultation. Start your enquiry below to book yours.
The appropriate service will depend on where you are in the NHS Continuing Healthcare process.
You may benefit from:
- An Eligibility Consultation and Action Plan if you have not yet applied and need advice about your prospects and next steps.
- The Complete Checklist Service if you are preparing to begin the initial assessment process.
- The DST Assessment Support Service if you have passed the Checklist and are preparing for the full assessment.
- An Appeal Viability Review if funding has been refused and you need advice about whether to challenge the decision.
- The Appeal Submission Service if grounds for appeal have been identified and you require assistance preparing the formal challenge.
Your free initial consultation can help us identify the most suitable starting point.
What is a 'Fixed Fee'?
A fixed fee gives you greater clarity and certainty about the cost of our work before you decide to proceed.
For each service, we will provide a clearly defined scope of work explaining exactly what is included within the quoted fee. This means you will know what support you will receive, which stages of the NHS Continuing Healthcare process are covered and how much the agreed service will cost.
Before you instruct us, we will confirm:
- The work included within the fixed-fee service
- The documents and evidence we will review
- Any meetings, preparation sessions or written advice included
- The applicable fee and VAT
- Any information or records we require from you
- Any additional services that are not included
- Whether any third-party costs or disbursements may apply
Our NHS Continuing Healthcare services are structured in separate stages. This allows you to choose the support that is most relevant to your circumstances without committing to legal representation throughout the entire process.