More than 50 most commonly asked questions answered about community care and adult social care

Needs assessments​

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What is a care needs assessment? 

​A care needs assessment is a free assessment carried out by the social services department of the council to determine what type of care and support a person needs to live independently. The assessment will help identify the person’s care needs, how to get support, and if the person qualifies for funded care.

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Who is eligible for a needs assessment? Is everyone entitled to a social care assessment?

Any adult who appears to need care or support is eligible and entitled to have a free needs assessment by their local council, regardless of their income, savings, or level of need.

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How do I get a care needs assessment?

The best way to get a care needs assessment is by contacting the adult social services department of your local council directly. You can request one by phone, email, or through their website.

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What questions are asked in a needs assessment?

The questions asked in a needs assessment are how your condition impacts your ability to manage your: everyday living tasks, personal hygiene, nutrition, hobbies, safety, relationships, and accessing the community, work, or training.

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How long does it take to get a care needs assessment?

A care needs assessment should be arranged by your local council within a reasonable time, typically within 6 weeks of your request. If delays occur, follow up with your council, or seek advice from our advocacy services.

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How can I prepare for the assessment?

Prepare for your needs assessment by reflecting on your daily challenges, keeping a diary of your care needs, explaining any fluctuating conditions, involving a carer, and gathering relevant documents like medical records. Set clear goals for the support you want and outcomes you want to achieve.

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Who is eligible for help from social services?

Eligibility for help from social services depends on to what extent a person’s needs for care support are the result of their disability, how much this affects their daily life, and how this impacts their well-being.

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What can I do if I disagree with the decision?

You can make a complaint about the outcome of your care assessment to your local council’s adult social care department. If you need support with this, you can contact us. If unresolved, you can escalate the complaint to the Social Care Ombudsman for an independent review. For more information please read our article “How to complain about the care you receive”.

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Carers

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What is a carer's assessment?

A carer’s assessment is an evaluation by your council to determine what support needs you have as an unpaid carer. It assesses the impact caring has on your life, including your physical, emotional, and social well-being, whether you’re willing or able to carry on caring, what you want to achieve in your daily life, and if you qualify for help. 

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What does a carer’s assessment do?

A carer's assessment identifies the needs of an unpaid carer and evaluates how caring affects their well-being. It helps determine what support is available, such as respite care, financial aid, or practical help, to improve the carer’s quality of life and reduce stress.

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Who can have a carer’s assessment?

Anyone who provides unpaid care for a family member or friend due to illness, disability, or a mental health issue, is eligible for a free carer’s assessment. You don’t need to live with the person or be providing care full-time to be eligible for the assessment.

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How to get a carer’s assessment?

You can get a carer's assessment by contacting your local council’s adult social services department. The request can be made online, by phone, or via email. If the person you care for lives in another area, contact their local council instead.  

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How to prepare for a carer’s assessment?

The best way to prepare for your carer's assessment is by listing the support you provide, such as emotional assistance, managing finances, or helping with personal care. Also, reflect on how caring impacts your life, including your time, emotional well-being, physical health, and social activities, and what support you need from the local council.

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What happens during a carer’s assessment?

During a carer's assessment, the assessor will discuss your caregiving role and how it affects your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Topics include your feelings about caring, your health, how caring impacts your work and hobbies, emergency planning, and what support you need to continue in your role.

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What happens after a carer’s assessment?

After a carer’s assessment, your local council will tell you if you are eligible for support, which depends on whether your carer’s role is having a significant impact on your well-being. If you are eligible, your council will discuss how it will meet your carer needs.

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What is a carer’s personal budget?

A carer's personal budget is an amount the council pays to support a carer to meet his needs. It aims to help the carer continue their carer’s role, while ensuring they can continue to pursue their own wishes and goals about employment, hobbies, education etc.

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What support can carers get?

The support a carer can get includes breaks from caring such as respite care, help with daily tasks, access to exercise classes and social activities, gym or leisure center membership, and training to help them with their caring role.

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Are you entitled to free respite care / Can social services help with respite care

Most councils offer free support for carers, but some services may have a cost. If a paid service is recommended, you may need a financial assessment to determine if you need to contribute to the costs based on your ability to pay.

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What can I do if I disagree with the decision?

You can make a complaint about the outcome of your carer’s assessment to your local council’s adult social care department. If you need support with this, you can contact us. If unresolved, we can escalate the complaint for you to the Social Care Ombudsman for an independent review. For more information please read our article “How to complain about the care you receive”.

 

How much do you get for Carer’s allowance

If you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone with an illness or disability, you may be eligible for extra money called Carer's Allowance. It is paid at a rate of £81.90 per week (2024/25).

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Who can have a Carer’s allowance?

A carer's allowance is for those aged 16 or over, who care for someone at least 35 hours a week, earn £151 or less per week after deductions, and aren't in full-time education. The person being cared for must receive certain disability benefits.

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Does a carer allowance affect other disability benefits?

Carer’s Allowance won’t affect disability benefits like PIP, DLA, or Attendance Allowance for the person you care for. However, it can stop any severe disability premium they receive through means-tested benefits, which may also impact Housing Benefits or Council Tax Support.

 

How do I get Carer’s allowance?

To get Carer’s Allowance, you can apply online at GOV.UK or by post using form DS700 (or DS700(SP) if on State Pension). You can also request a claim form by calling 0800 731 0297.

 

What are carer’s allowance overpayments?

Carer’s Allowance overpayments are payments made when you are no longer eligible because you are earning more than £151 (2024/25) per week after deductions. If you don't tell the Carer’s Allowance Unit, you will have to repay the overpaid amount.

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​Charging

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Do I have to pay for social care? Why am I being charged for adult social care?

Social services are usually not free of charge, so in most cases, you will have to pay for the care services you receive. You will either have to pay a contribution or the full amount. Your local council will assess your income and savings to determine how much you will have to contribute.

 

What is meant by financial assessment?

A financial assessment is a way for your local council to understand your financial situation. The assessment will calculate how much you will be able to afford to pay towards your weekly care costs.

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What is included in a financial assessment? What is taken into account in a financial assessment for care

A financial assessment looks at your income, such as pensions and benefits, assets such as savings and investments, as well as property.

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What assets are assessed for care at home?

The assets your local council takes into account when calculating how much you have to contribute to your homecare are your: income, benefits, pension, savings, stocks, trust funds, land, and if you own any other properties.

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What assets are assessed for care home fees?

Your local council takes these assets into account when calculating how much you have to contribute to your care home, your: pension, buildings, land, savings, stocks and trust funds.

 

How much savings can I have before I have to pay for social care? How much money can I have before paying for a care home?

If you have less than £23,250 in savings, you may be eligible for the local council to pay towards the cost of your social care. A financial assessment will calculate how much you will can afford to pay, and how much the council will contribute.

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What is the 7-year rule for care home fees?

The 7-year rule is a common misconception that, after seven years, the council will no longer consider any capital you gave away, when it carries out your financial assessment.

 

What is 12 weeks property disregard?

The Council will disregard the value of your home for the first 12 weeks when you move into a care home permanently. This will give you time to decide if you want to sell your house or ask for a deferred payment agreement with us.

 

What is a deferred payment agreement?

A deferred payment agreement is a legally binding contract between a homeowner and a council that allows the homeowner to delay paying some of their care home costs until a later date. 

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How does property disregard work?

A property disregard is when you go into a care home permanently, but the value of your property is not included in your financial assessment.

 

What is a mandatory property disregard?

A mandatory property disregard is when you go into a care home permanently, but the value of your home is not included in your financial assessment, because your spouse still lives there, or another relative (above age 60) who considers it to be their main or only home.

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What is a discretionary property disregard?

A discretionary property disregard is when you go into a care home permanently, but the council uses its discretion and decides not to include the value of your home in your financial assessment, because (for instance) it is the sole residence of someone who has given up their own home to care for you.

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What is the average cost of a care home per week in the UK?

The average weekly cost of a residential care home is £1,160 a week, and the average fee of a nursing home is £1,410 per week.

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What is a top up fee for a care home?

If the council is funding your care home place, but you want to choose a care home that is more expensive than the amount they will give you, you can still move there if your family agrees to pay the difference, the ‘top-up fee’.

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How to make a complaint?

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What to do if social services are wrong?

If social services are wrong, you can raise the issue directly with them. If unresolved, we can help you to make a complaint to the local council. If unresolved, we can help you to escalate the matter to the Social Care Ombudsman.

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Is there an Ombudsman for adult social care?

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigates complaints about councils and adult social care providers, such as care homes and home care agencies.

 

What is the process of making a complaint in social care?

The process to make a care complaint is to first raise the issue with your council. If unresolved, you can make a complaint to the local council. You can also seek advice from our advocacy service, or escalate the matter to the Local Government Ombudsman. For more information please read our article “How to complain about the care you receive”.

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How much does a solicitor charge per hour: 

A solicitor charges the following per hour (Guideline hourly rates)

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Grade  Fea earner                                                                                                      National 1

A          Solicitors and legal executives with over 8 years' experience                        £278

B          Solicitors and legal executives with over 4 years' experience                        £233

C         Other solicitors /legal executives/fee earners of same experience                  £199   

D         Trainee solicitors, paralegals and other fee earners                                      £134

I have 14 years experience of investigating adult social care complaints against Councils throughout England and only charge £150 an hour (incl VAT) instead of the £278 above.

 

What does a community care solicitor do?

A community care solicitor challenges decisions made by social services, where it is considered they have acted unlawfully in providing or funding services to children, young people, and elderly, vulnerable or disabled adults.

 

What is a social care solicitor? What does a social care solicitor do?

We are experts in Adult Social Care. Adult social care law involves challenging decisions made by social services, where they may have acted unlawfully in providing or funding services to vulnerable, mentally incapacitated or disabled adults.

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Can I get a solicitor against social services? 

If you have been failed by social services, our social services experts will be able to help you to make a claim for compensation. To speak to a social care expert who specializes in complaints against social services, call 020 3576 2695.

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Can I get a community care solicitor near me? 

Our clients have told us that it is very difficult these days to find a community care solicitor. Even though we are based in London, we deal with community care / adult social care cases all over England. If you are looking for affordable expert advice and support, then please call 020 3576 2695, or alternatively you can email us.

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Other questions

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What is adult social care?

Adult social care is the support provided to help those in need maintain their independence and well-being.

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What are direct payments?

A direct payment is a payment from your local council to meet your needs. You can use the amount to hire a care agency or personal assistant or any other services, as long as they meet your needs.

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Who qualifies for direct payments for care?

To qualify for direct payments, you must have the capacity to manage the payments, either independently or with help from a representative or company.

 

What is NHS Continuing Healthcare

NHS continuing healthcare is a package of care for people who are assessed as having a 'primary health need'. 

 

Who qualifies for NHS Continuing healthcare?

You qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding if you are older than 18 years and have a 'primary health need’. This means that most of the care you receive is to address your health needs, rather than your social or personal care needs.

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If you believe social services are failing to meet your eligible needs, are unreasonablydelaying things, or are overcharging you, we may be able to help you to get the support and compensation you are entitled to. To speak to our adult social care specialist, please call 020 3576 2695, or alternatively you can email us on office@care-concern-solutions.co.uk

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