If a council charges someone for care and support outside a care home, the charging rules are supposed to leave them with a minimum level of income for ordinary living costs. This protection is called the minimum income guarantee, or MIG.
The Care and Support Statutory Guidance says charges for non-residential care must not reduce a person’s income below the applicable MIG. The Department of Health and Social Care’s current 2026–27 charging circular sets the national rates.
What the MIG is for
People receiving care at home still need to pay for food, energy, rent-related costs, clothing and ordinary living expenses. The MIG provides a protected minimum amount after social care charges.
The MIG is not one flat rate
The applicable amount depends on age, household status and certain premiums or responsibilities.
2026–27 single-person rates
The 2026–27 national rates include:
- £95.40 per week for a single person aged 18 to under 25;
- £120.40 per week for a single person aged 25 to under Pension Credit age;
- £241.45 per week for a single person who has reached Pension Credit age;
- £116.80 per week for a lone parent aged 18 or over.
2026–27 couple rates
The national circular gives £94.55 per week for certain adults who are members of a couple and below Pension Credit age, and £184.30 for certain couples where one or both have reached Pension Credit age.
Children in the household
The 2026–27 circular includes an additional £106.85 for each child where the adult is responsible for and lives in the same household as that child.
Disability and carer premiums
Additional amounts can apply where the adult would qualify for specified disability, enhanced disability or carer premiums under the charging rules.
Can councils allow people to keep more?
Yes. The national MIG is a minimum protection. Councils can be more generous through local charging policies.
What the MIG does not cover
It is not intended to replace separate recognition of disability-related expenditure. BetterCare’s DRE guide explains those additional costs.
How the MIG fits into the financial assessment
The council looks at relevant income and allowable deductions, then applies charging rules so the contribution does not take income below the protected level.
Why your council figure may differ from the headline rate
Local policies, premiums, household circumstances and disregards can affect the final protected amount.
What if the calculation leaves less than the MIG?
Ask the council to explain its calculation and which MIG rate it used.
What if the person has disability-related costs?
Raise those separately. The statutory guidance recognises that people may need to retain additional money for disability-related expenses.
What if rent or housing costs are high?
Housing support and charging interactions can be complex. Ask the council how relevant housing costs were treated.
What if the person’s benefits change?
The financial assessment may need updating. Tell the council when pension or benefit income changes materially.
What if the person reaches Pension Credit age?
The applicable MIG category may change. Ask for reassessment rather than assuming it updates automatically.
What if the council uses a higher local MIG?
That is allowed. Keep the local charging policy because it may give more protection than the statutory minimum.
What if the contribution looks too high?
Use BetterCare’s financial assessment guide to check income, capital, DRE and the MIG together.
MIG and care homes are different
People in local-authority-supported care homes are protected by the personal expenses allowance rather than the non-residential MIG framework.
2026–27 personal expenses allowance
The current circular sets the care-home personal expenses allowance at £31.80 per week for 2026–27.
Do not use old online figures
MIG rates can change each financial year. Check the current DHSC circular rather than relying on an old blog or council PDF.
A practical script
You can say: “Please confirm which 2026–27 minimum income guarantee rate was applied to my financial assessment and show how the final weekly contribution leaves at least that protected amount.”
The main point
The MIG is a floor, not a target contribution. It protects a minimum amount of income for ordinary living costs after social care charges, with additional rules for disability-related expenses and household circumstances.
Why MIG rates can be confusing
The published figures are building blocks rather than always the final protected amount. Age, couple status, children and certain premiums can alter the applicable amount.
Single people under 25
For 2026–27, the circular sets a base weekly amount of £95.40 for a single person aged 18 to under 25 before any relevant additions.
Single people aged 25 to Pension Credit age
The corresponding base amount is £120.40 per week.
Single people at Pension Credit age
The base amount is £241.45 per week.
Lone parents
The circular gives £116.80 per week for a lone parent aged 18 or over, with additional amounts for children.
Couples below Pension Credit age
The base figure is £94.55 per week for the relevant member of a couple.
Couples at Pension Credit age
The base amount is £184.30 where the relevant age condition is met.
Child addition
An additional £106.85 per child applies where the adult is responsible for and lives with the child.
Disability premium additions
For 2026–27, the circular includes additional amounts for disability and enhanced disability premiums where the relevant conditions are met.
Carer premium
The 2026–27 circular includes an additional £55.25 carer premium where the charging rules say it applies.
Why your council may show a higher protected amount
Some councils choose to set a more generous local MIG than the statutory minimum. That is allowed.
Why your council should explain the rate
The financial assessment should be understandable. Ask which base rate and additions were used rather than accepting a single unexplained “protected income” figure.
How DRE differs from MIG
MIG protects ordinary living costs. Disability-related expenditure recognises extra costs created by disability. Both can matter in the same financial assessment.
What if the council uses last year’s rates
Ask for correction to the current financial year where appropriate. The 2026–27 rates took effect for this financial year and should not be confused with 2025–26 figures.
What if the person’s birthday changes their category
Age-based categories can change during the year. Ask when the new rate should apply.
What if Pension Credit age changes
The relevant age threshold is determined under the rules in force. Ask the council which date and category it used.
What if the person lives with family
Household composition does not automatically turn a single person into a couple for charging purposes. Ask how the council classified the person.
What if the person has a partner but finances are separate
Charging assessments usually focus on the individual’s resources, but household status can affect the MIG category. Ask the council to explain how it applied the rules.
What if the protected income still feels too low
Check DRE, local discretion and whether all relevant premiums were included. If the calculation is correct but hardship remains, ask about the council’s hardship policy.
MIG does not mean the council can take everything above it
The final contribution still depends on the full financial assessment, not simply the difference between income and the MIG.
A MIG calculation checklist
- age;
- single/couple status;
- children;
- disability premium;
- enhanced disability premium;
- carer premium;
- DRE;
- local charging policy.
How MIG works in a simple example
If the council calculates that a person has assessable weekly income above their protected amount, only the amount available after the relevant charging rules can be considered towards care. The exact contribution also depends on disregards, disability-related expenditure and local policy.
Why MIG is not the same as “spending money”
The protected amount is intended to help cover ordinary living costs such as food, utilities, household items and day-to-day expenses. It is not meant to be swallowed by care charges.
What if the person receives Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing support
Housing-cost benefits are treated under separate rules. Ask the council how rent-related income and housing costs were handled in the financial assessment.
What if household bills are unusually high
Ordinary higher bills do not automatically increase the MIG, but disability-related additional costs may need separate consideration through DRE.
What if the council’s letter only gives a final contribution
Ask for the underlying calculation showing assessable income, MIG, any premiums, disregards and DRE. The figure should be explainable.
What if the person receives Attendance Allowance or PIP
These benefits can affect assessable income, but disability-related expenditure may also need to be recognised. The full financial assessment matters more than one benefit in isolation.
What if the person’s circumstances change mid-year
Tell the council if household status, benefits, age category or caring responsibilities change. The protected amount may need updating.
How to check your council’s policy
Search the council website for its adult social care charging policy and compare the local MIG with the statutory minimum. Some councils publish a higher protected amount.
What if the local policy is more generous
The more generous local amount should normally be applied according to that policy. Keep a copy of the current policy if you challenge the calculation.
A practical MIG checklist
Confirm the financial year, age category, household status, children, relevant premiums, local enhancements and disability-related expenditure before accepting the final contribution.
Reviewed: September 2026. England-focused information using the 2026–27 DHSC charging circular.
For the wider means test, including the separate rules for residential care, see our guide to 2026–27 social care capital limits.
