Adult care eligibility - who can get care and support?

The assessment process

The local authority decides whether you need care and support to help you live your day-to-day life by using an assessment process.

This must be carried out by an appropriately trained assessor, for example a social worker or occupational therapist.

Complete a care self-assessment.

This will indicate whether you are likely to need a full assessment from a trained professional.

After the full assessment is complete, we will consider whether any of the needs identified are eligible for support.

How does the authority determine who has eligible needs?

The Care Act sets out the national minimum threshold for eligibility, which is the same across England.

Determining eligibility is important to work out whether the local authority must meet your needs for care and support.

If you are eligible, based on these needs, then the authority will discuss your care and support plan with you.

Can someone else be present at my eligibility assessment?

You are able to have a friend or family member with you at the assessment if you want to.

The Care Act states that, if you don’t have a friend or family member to support you, the council must arrange for you to have an independent advocate with you if you have difficulty doing any of the following:

• Communicating what you want to say
• Understanding the information given to you, or remembering it
• Weighing up the information you are given in order to make decisions about your support

An independent advocate is a trained professional who can help you to get your voice heard at the assessment and make sure that the end result reflects your wishes and rights.

What doesn’t require social care?

There are instances where you may be struggling with your needs that don’t qualify for social care these include:

• Gardening
• DIY
• Installing electrical equipment

Some home care services may require an assessment. Under The Care Act you are entitled to an assessment of your care and may in some circumstances may be eligible for support from the council. An assessment helps the local authority to decide whether you need care and support to help you live your day to day life.

What is assessed?

A care assessment must be carried out by an appropriately trained assessor such as a social worker or an occupational therapist. They will consider a number of factors to determine whether or not you need care and support. These factors include your needs and how they impact your wellbeing for example if you need help getting dressed or getting to work and the outcomes that matter to you for example if you are a lonely and want to make new friends. You assessor will also consider any other circumstances such as whether you live alone or whether someone supports you.

Who is eligible for care?

Not all care needs are met by the state. Your assessor will use the eligibility framework, set out in The Care Act, to decide if your needs are eligible to be met by public care and support.

The Care Act sets out the national minimum threshold for eligibility, which is the same across England. Your assessment will measure you across a number of outcomes, these are:

• Managing and maintaining nutrition
• Maintaining personal hygiene
• Managing toilet needs
• Being appropriately clothed
• Being able to make use of the adult's home safely
• Maintaining a habitable home environment
• Developing and maintaining family or other personal relationships
• Accessing and engaging in work, training, education or volunteering
• Making use of necessary facilities or services in the local community, including public transport and recreational facilities or services
• Carrying out any caring responsibilities the adult has for a child

If you cannot achieve two or more of these outcomes as a result of a physical or mental condition, and this is having a significant impact on your wellbeing, you may be eligible for care support.