What companionship care costs in Greater Manchester

Whitegreen companionship costs £28 an hour on weekdays and includes the outing, the shopping, the meal made together and the light help around the house. There is no assessment fee, no deposit and no minimum term, the meet-and-greet before the first visit is free, and one week's notice ends the arrangement from either side. For example, one two-hour weekday visit a week comes to about £242.67 a month; two such visits about £485.33. Attendance Allowance, which is not means-tested, can contribute to visits for an eligible recipient, depending on their wider budget.

What a visit includes

A companionship visit is time with a familiar person, with the length and routine agreed around you. The time can include: conversation over a cup of tea, cards or a jigsaw, a walk, the hairdresser, a café, the weekly shop done together, a prescription collected, a meal cooked and eaten at the table, a load of washing put on, a bulb changed, a video call to the family set up and left running.

None of that is itemised. The price is for the companion's time, and the practical help is folded into it.

The prices

Two hours is a price example, not a limit. One hour may suit a chat; a longer visit may allow an afternoon out or more time at home. Full-day and overnight enquiries need an individual discussion about the hours, support, companion arrangements and price. We confirm suitability and availability before booking.

What a typical week adds up to

Choose a routine around the part of the week the person wants to change. These are examples:

• One two-hour weekday visit a week: £56, or about £242.67 a month averaged over the year.
• Two two-hour weekday visits a week: £112, or about £485.33 a month.
• One two-hour visit plus a one-hour midweek check-in: £84, or about £364 a month.

Monthly figures are the weekly cost times 52 divided by 12; invoices are weekly, in arrears, for the visits that actually happened. Cancelling with more than 24 hours' notice is free. Inside 24 hours the visit is charged, because the companion is paid for the slot either way, except for a hospital admission, illness or a family emergency, which are never charged.

What the price buys that a lower one might not

Whether a price is good value depends on what stands behind it. Ours pays for a companion who is employed by Whitegreen rather than introduced as a self-employed contractor, which means the training, the supervision, the insurance and the cover when they are unwell are all ours to provide. It pays for the same person every week and a named backup who is never a stranger, for the written note to the family after every visit, and for the monthly phone call from the office.

When you compare providers, the questions worth asking are about those things rather than the headline number: who employs the companion, what happens when they are ill, whether you get the same person each week, and how you find out how the visit went.

Paying for it

Visits can be paid for privately. An eligible recipient can consider using Attendance Allowance towards visits, alongside their other costs. From April 2026 the lower rate is £76.70 a week, which covers a weekly two-hour visit with money to spare; the higher rate is £114.60. Some people also spend part of a council direct payment on company.

Our guide on Attendance Allowance and companionship care explains who qualifies and how to claim, and we are happy to talk it through on the phone.

Match visit length to the purpose

A one-hour conversation at home and an accompanied hospital appointment need different plans. For an outing, include getting ready, both journeys, time at the destination and returning comfortably. Paying for two hours does not promise that any outing will fit into it.

Choose the important part first. If the person mainly wants company, leave time for that instead of filling the visit with shopping and household tasks. If several tasks are essential, discuss whether the time is realistic before booking.

An outing cost worked through

This is a planning example, not a quotation for a real journey. A two-hour weekday daytime visit is £56. Eight agreed outing miles in the companion's car cost £3.60 at 45p per mile. That gives £59.60 before parking, refreshments, admission or other agreed purchases, assuming the visit fits within two hours.

Ask what happens if waiting time makes the visit longer and who agrees an extra charge. For a mixed routine of weekdays and weekends, calculate the different rates separately rather than applying one headline price to the whole week.

What to put in a comparison

For each provider, record the actual visit length and time, the full charge, what is included, who arranges cover and the notice needed to change or stop. If a company gives only an hourly rate, ask what the proposed routine would cost in total.

Use our cost planner for an estimate and the provider questions to compare the arrangements behind a price. If using a direct payment, confirm the council's spending conditions first. Do not rely on an unconfirmed benefit award to make a recurring commitment affordable.

Common questions

How much is a companionship visit?

£28 an hour on weekdays between 8am and 6pm, and £35 an hour evenings and weekends (+25%). Visit length is agreed at the meet-and-greet.

Is there a minimum number of visits or a contract?

No. There is no minimum term, no deposit and no set-up fee. One visit a week is one possible starting point, and one week's notice ends the arrangement.

What is included in the price?

Everything the companion does during the visit: company, the outing, the shopping, a meal made and eaten together, and light help around the home. The price is the companion's time. Transport on outings is at cost: 45p a mile in the companion's car, or the taxi fare. Admissions, meals and shopping are the client's own, agreed in advance and receipted; the companion's own bus fare or coffee is on us.

Can I pay for companionship with Attendance Allowance?

Yes. Attendance Allowance is not means-tested and there are no rules on what it is spent on. The lower rate of £76.70 a week covers a weekly two-hour visit with money to spare.

Sources

References for the external facts and guidance on this page. Practical examples are examples. If information has changed, tell us so we can correct it.

1. Whitegreen Companions published price list
2. GOV.UK, Attendance Allowance, what you'll get