Eligibility for care and support
Eligibility for care and support
We determine whether you are eligible for local authority funded care and support to meet your assessed needs by applying national eligibility criteria.
The decision is made using the Care and Support (Eligibility Criteria) Regulations, which are issued under the Care Act 2014. For details see the eligibility criteria page.
If you have been assessed as eligible for local authority funded care and support, we will also ask you to have a financial assessment to see how much your care and support will cost and how much you may have to contribute.
We will then work with you to develop a care and support plan, which will set out how your needs can be best met.
If your needs change again in the future and you feel you need further support, you can always ask for further information, advice and guidance. You can also request another care and support assessment should you need it.
If you need someone to help you say what you need to in the appeal, an independent advocate may be able to help you. See the Advocacy fact sheet (473 KB) for more information about how access this support.
The decision is made using the Care and Support (Eligibility Criteria) Regulations, which are issued under the Care Act 2014. For details see the eligibility criteria page.
How will I know if I am eligible and what happens next?
Following your care and support needs assessment, we will tell you about our decision and give you reasons to explain what we have decided. This will say if you are eligible to have your needs met by the local authority.If you have been assessed as eligible for local authority funded care and support, we will also ask you to have a financial assessment to see how much your care and support will cost and how much you may have to contribute.
We will then work with you to develop a care and support plan, which will set out how your needs can be best met.
What happens if I am not eligible?
If you are not eligible for local authority funded care and support, there is loads of information, advice and guidance on this website that you can use to help yourself or someone you care for. We can also help you to:- find solutions to meet your needs if possible by providing you with the information and advice you need. There are many different types of care and support available that you can access should you need it.
- find some useful gadgets and home adaptations that can make those everyday tasks a little easier. The equipment catalogue can be used to find and purchase these
- consider the involvement and support of carers, families, friends to meet your needs.
- consider what support is available in your local community, including activities / groups organised by local charities or voluntary organisations. Details of different services, local activities / groups that are can be found on the local directory.
If your needs change again in the future and you feel you need further support, you can always ask for further information, advice and guidance. You can also request another care and support assessment should you need it.
What happens if I'm not happy with the decision?
If you'd like to appeal our eligibility decision this is the form to use (375KB).If you need someone to help you say what you need to in the appeal, an independent advocate may be able to help you. See the Advocacy fact sheet (473 KB) for more information about how access this support.