Am I eligible for support from Social Services?

We can give some type of help to everyone, such as advice over the phone, information and printed publications. But only some people qualify for more practical support like home or personal care.  

Some more information on the help we can give everyone is available from this section of the website.

Eligibility criteria

The eligibility criteria are the guidelines we use to decide whether you qualify for our support. They make sure that we treat everyone fairly and use our money in the most effective way.  

We can only offer support to people with ‘critical' or ‘substantial' needs. We decide whether you are in one of these categories by looking at your circumstances and the level of risk to your safety if you don't get support.  

There are different levels of need, from critical to low:  

• Critical
• Substantial
• Moderate and Low

You can download our Factsheet on Fair Access to Care (FACS) for a more detailed explanation of these levels of need.

Support if you have a disability

If you have a permanent and substantial disability (including sight or hearing difficulties, or both) then we will also see if you qualify for any support under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

This might include practical support at home, adaptations to your home or help with preparing meals.

Financial support

Everyone has to pay a contribution towards the cost of their care, but you may qualify for help with some costs. This will depend on your financial circumstances.