Fair Access to Care Services Eligibility Criteria

Who is eligible to receive a service from Adult Social Care?

When you are assessed by Adult Social Care, we use a set of eligibility criteria to define who is able to receive community care services. These criteria are set out in national guidelines from the Department of Health called 'Fair Access to Care Services'.

Fair Access to Care Services

The Government’s Fair Access to Care Services guidance sets out the criteria which all local authorities must follow when assessing new and existing service users aged 18 and over.

This helps us to ensure that those in greatest need and at the highest risk receive services, and that everyone who requests a service is dealt with fairly.

Eligibility criteria are used to establish the level of risk to independence in these four areas:

• Health, safety and freedom from harm, abuse and neglect.
• Autonomy and freedom to make choices.
• The ability to manage personal and other daily routines.
• Involvement in family and wider community life, including hobbies, leisure, unpaid and paid work, learning and volunteering.

We will also take into account:

• Help you have from carers and other agencies.
• Any assistive equipment which you may have to support your independence.
• Risks faced by others such as your family carers.
• Which risks are acceptable to you which are a natural part of independent living.

What happens next?

We will consider the level of risk to your independence in the four main areas listed above and determine which of the following eligibility bands apply:

• Critical
• Substantial
• Moderate
• Low

Cumbria County Council’s policy is that if your assessment indicates a level of risk to your independence which fall within the critical or substantial eligibility criteria, the council will provide a service to meet those needs.

However, those needs which are assessed as falling within the moderate or low bands will not qualify for services from Cumbria County Council. Instead we will provide information and advice about other organisations who may be able to help.

If you would like more information on the criteria we use, see our factsheet:

Fair Access to Care Services Eligibility Criteria Factsheet (PDF 100KB)