State pensioners and their families can get a little known benefit from the NHS worth more than £44,000 a year.

There is a scheme offered by the NHS called Continuing Healthcare, which can be used to pay for often eyewatering care home bills.

The cost of care is one of the biggest financial burdens in old age borne by state pensioners or their families. A long term or debilitating condition which requires round-the-clock care can rack up bills so colossal that some people even have to sell…