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Practical guide3 min read

Care Act assessments: eligibility, wellbeing, and delays

Under the Care Act 2014 (England), where it appears an adult may have needs for care and support, the local authority must carry out a needs assessment — regardless of your income or savings. Needs can be physical, mental, or a combination. The assessment should involve you and be proportionate; it is not a memory test you must pass.

Checked 2026-05-07

Illustration for guide: Care Act assessments: eligibility, wellbeing, and delays
Care & Support
Applies to
Not specified — check the official sources below
Who it’s for
People arranging care and support
Evidence
Official and primary sources linked below

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Your answer

The answer in 30 seconds

  • Under the Care Act 2014 (England), where it appears an adult may have needs for care and support, the local authority must carry out a…
  • Daily living: washing, dressing, meals, continence, moving around the home, stairs, night needs.
  • Risks: falls, seizures, confusion with gas or meds, pressure injury, choking.
  • Evidence that helps: Daily living
  • Avoid: Daily living

Your next moves

Do these first

  1. 1Daily living
  2. 2Risks
  3. 3Cognition and communication

Full guide

Step-by-step

1

Daily living

Daily living: washing, dressing, meals, continence, moving around the home, stairs, night needs. Start here so the rest of the guide has a clear foundation.

Under the Care Act 2014 (England), where it appears an adult may have needs for care and support, the local authority must carry out a needs assessment — regardless of your income or savings. Needs can be physical,…

  • Daily living: washing, dressing, meals, continence, moving around the home, stairs, night needs.
  • Watch out: Daily living
  • Keep copies of anything you send and any reply you receive.

What to do

Practical guidance for your situation.
2

Risks

Risks: falls, seizures, confusion with gas or meds, pressure injury, choking. Take this step carefully before moving on — it supports everything that follows.

  • Risks: falls, seizures, confusion with gas or meds, pressure injury, choking.
  • Keep copies of anything you send and any reply you receive.

What to do

Evidence to keep ready

  • Daily living: washing, dressing, meals, continence, moving around the home, stairs, night needs.
  • Risks: falls, seizures, confusion with gas or meds, pressure injury, choking.
  • Cognition and communication: needing prompts, reassurance, or advocacy.
  • Carer breakdown: if an unpaid carer cannot continue safely, say so plainly.
Worked approach: Risks: falls, seizures, confusion with gas or meds, pressure injury, choking Then record what happened and what you still need.
3

Cognition and communication

Cognition and communication: needing prompts, reassurance, or advocacy. Take this step carefully before moving on — it supports everything that follows.

  • Cognition and communication: needing prompts, reassurance, or advocacy.
  • Keep copies of anything you send and any reply you receive.

What to do

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Daily living: washing, dressing, meals, continence, moving around the home, stairs, night needs.
  • Risks: falls, seizures, confusion with gas or meds, pressure injury, choking.
  • Cognition and communication: needing prompts, reassurance, or advocacy.
Worked approach: Cognition and communication: needing prompts, reassurance, or advocacy Then record what happened and what you still need.
4

Carer breakdown

Carer breakdown: if an unpaid carer cannot continue safely, say so plainly. Take this step carefully before moving on — it supports everything that follows.

  • Daily living: washing, dressing, meals, continence, moving around the home, stairs, night needs.
  • Evidence that helps: Carer breakdown
  • Keep copies of anything you send and any reply you receive.

What to do

Worked approach: Carer breakdown: if an unpaid carer cannot continue safely, say so plainly Then record what happened and what you still need.

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Preparation

What to prepare

Only gather what genuinely helps with this process; you do not need paperwork for the sake of it.

Problems and refusals

If things go wrong

  • Keep notes and ask for decisions in writing.
  • Use the related detailed guide when you are ready for the next step.
  • Daily living: washing, dressing, meals, continence, moving around the home, stairs, night needs.
  • Risks: falls, seizures, confusion with gas or meds, pressure injury, choking.
  • Cognition and communication: needing prompts, reassurance, or advocacy.

Common questions

Practical answers you can use straight away — expand any question for next steps, example wording, and related help.

Under the Care Act 2014 (England), where it appears an adult may have needs for care and support, the local authority must carry out a needs assessment — regardless of your income or savings. Needs can be physical, mental, or a combination. The assessment should involve you and be proportionate; it is not a memory test you must pass.

What to do next

  • Read the At a glance section
  • Start with step 1

Trust and checking

Official sources

Use these to check the underlying rule or process, especially if your circumstances are unusual.

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