Eligibility for care and support from the council

To be eligible to receive social care support from us, your needs will be assessed against national eligibility criteria (PDF, 62KB). If you don’t meet the criteria, we will still give you advice and information, and help you to find services in the community, some of which may be free, and can help to keep you as independent and active as possible.

To be assessed as eligible for support, you need to show that:

1. Your needs arise from (or are related to) a physical or mental impairment or illness, and
2. The issues you face have a significant impact on your wellbeing, and
3. You are unable to achieve two or more of the following activities:
   • eating and drinking
   • maintaining personal hygiene
   • managing toilet needs
   • being appropriately clothed
   • being able to make use of your home safely
   • maintaining a habitable home environment
   • developing or 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 caring responsibilities the adult has for a child

These national criteria are standard across the country, making the system fairer and equitable if you have to move between local authority areas.