To ensure fairness between residential and domiciliary care, everyone in residential care will remain responsible for meeting their DLCs (representing spend towards things like rent, food and utility bills). The regulations set a national, notional amount that is attributable to DLCs, which is £200 in 2021 to 2022 prices. The amount is to be reviewed annually and uprated as considered appropriate. Costs attributable to DLCs will not accrue towards the cap, and people remain responsible for paying DLCs once they reach the cap and continue to receive care in a residential home.

An amount you have to pay to cover things like rent, food and bills if you live in a care home.

DLCs are not widely understood, and the definition(s) need to clarify that they are included in the charges which residential home residents are already paying.