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Home Eligibility criteria for care services

This information will help you understand who can receive care services in Redbridge.  

What is eligibility criteria? 

Elegibility criteria - Adult social services

Eligibility criteria are rules to ensure we provide services fairly to support those people who need it the most.

Guidance issued by the Department of Health helps all Councils decide who should receive community care services.

Community care services are provided to people who need help to maintain their safety and independence on a day-to-day basis because they have a disability, illness, injury, frailty due to old age or a mental health problem.

Who does it apply to?

The eligibility criteria applies to all adults aged 18 years and over seeking help from the social service. This includes help and support for carers.

How do I get an assessment?

To request an assessment please contact the Community Care Advice Centre.

If you are unhappy with the decision from your assessment of needs, you can contact the Adult Social Services Complaints Team.  

How does it work?

Decisions on who should receive services are based on risks to independence, both immediate risks and longer-term risks, if help is not provided.

Your needs will be assessed as being in one of five levels:

  • critical
  • greater substantial
  • lesser substantial
  • moderate
  • low

Who will receive a service?

Before we can arrange services for you, you will need to have an individual assessment. This assessment will show us what your needs are, what problems you are facing and how we can help you. 

If your needs meet the critical or greater substantial level then you will receive a care service from the council.

If your needs are assessed as not being critical or greater substantial, we will offer advice and information about other sources of support.

Will I have to pay for an assessment?

The assessment is free, as are some of the services that we provide. There are charges for some services.

What happens if my circumstances change?

If your circumstances change you can ask us to re-assess your needs. The assessment the Council makes is only based on the situation at the time.

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