Check your eligibility for care

Find out how we decide whether your needs make you eligible to receive care or support from the council.

How we assess your eligibility for care

If you ask us to look at your care needs, we’ll assess them in line with criteria set out in the Care Act 2014.

We assess your need for care based on:

  • your physical and mental health
  • what you need help with
  • your wellbeing

An assessment will help identify what care or support would help you become or stay independent, safe and well.

Your physical and mental health

To meet the eligibility criteria for council care, your needs must arise from physical or mental health conditions that affect your ability to carry out at least 2 daily tasks.

What you need help with

We will also assess your ability to perform daily tasks. These are:

  • shopping for food, preparing a meal, eating a healthy diet, or drinking plenty of fluids
  • keeping yourself clean
  • getting to and using the toilet
  • dressing or undressing or keeping your clothes clean
  • moving around inside and outside
  • keeping your home clean and tidy
  • staying in contact with your friends and family
  • working in a job, learning at school or college, or volunteering (where relevant)
  • taking part in social activities and using local facilities
  • caring for a child that you look after (where relevant)

Your wellbeing

The last stage of eligibility criteria is whether there is a significant impact on your wellbeing if you cannot achieve the daily activities listed.

When we consider the impact on your wellbeing, we look at:

  • personal dignity
  • control over your day to day life
  • taking part in education
  • work or social activities
  • relationships with other people
  • having suitable accommodation
  • protection from abuse and neglect

Requesting a care needs assessment

Learn more about the care needs assessment process

Paying for care

Care provided by the council is means-tested.

If you have more than £23,250 in savings and investments, you’ll have to pay for any care we agree to arrange for you.

If you have less than this amount, we might help pay towards your care. It’s likely you’ll still need to pay something though.

The rules are slightly different depending on your circumstances.

Find out more about paying for care

Find out what support is available in the community

If you need extra help, we recommend investigating community support options first. You can:

Check your eligibility 

The care needs checklist will show if you’re likely to receive care or support from us. It will take you to a form where you can request a care needs assessment.

Complete care needs checklist for yourself

Complete care needs checklist for someone else