Step 1 - are you 'eligible' for a community care assessment

Check if you 'qualify' for a community care assessment

Anyone aged over 16 who may be in need of a community care service is entitled to an assessment of their needs. In order to get a community care assessment the council has to consider you to be someone who has a potential need for services. 

You might need community care services for example if you:

• are elderly and struggling to care for yourself in your home
• have physical disabilities
• have a mental illness or dementia
• have learning difficulties, including autism
• have problems with alcohol or drug abuse
• have HIV/AIDS

Carers may also need community care services. To find out more about this see Carers: help and support. 

Many people will automatically have an assessment arranged 

You might not be in the list above but if you think you need help to live independently or you're struggling to care for yourself the council should recognise that you have a potential need for community care services and should be assessed. There's action you can take if you're refused an assessment. If you're you can argue you should have an assessment. Check what kind of services might be able to get.