Care Act 2014 — Plain English Guide

✍️ Paurav Joshi, Director, Ekvarta Ltd 📅 Last updated: May 2026 🖨️ Print this guide

🔑 Key Things the Care Act Gives You

The right to a free needs assessment regardless of your finances
A clear national eligibility threshold — the same across all councils
The right to a personal budget and to receive it as Direct Payments
The right to a Carer's Assessment if you care for someone
The duty on councils to promote your wellbeing — not just meet needs

What Is the Care Act 2014?

The Care Act 2014 came into force in April 2015 and reformed adult social care law in England. It replaced a patchwork of older legislation and established a single, clear framework for how councils must assess and meet the care needs of adults.

Note: The Care Act applies to England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own legislation (Wales has the Social Services and Well-being Act 2014).

The Wellbeing Principle

The Care Act puts wellbeing at its heart. When a council makes decisions about your care, it must consider your wellbeing — including your physical, mental and emotional health, your personal dignity, your participation in work and social activities, and your relationships.

This means councils cannot simply focus on your basic survival needs. They must consider what makes your life meaningful and worthwhile.

Needs Assessment — Your Right

Under the Care Act, anyone can ask their council for a needs assessment. The council must carry it out, regardless of:

Your income or savings
Whether the council thinks you might not be eligible
Whether you live in a care home or at home

A social worker will assess your care needs — looking at what daily activities you can and cannot do, and what outcomes you want to achieve. Contact your local council's adult social care team to request an assessment.

Eligibility — The National Threshold

Before the Care Act, eligibility thresholds varied between councils. Now there is a single national threshold. You have eligible needs under the Care Act if:

Your needs arise from a physical or mental impairment or illness
As a result, you are unable to achieve two or more specified daily activities
This has a significant impact on your wellbeing

The specified daily activities include things like: managing nutrition, maintaining personal hygiene, managing toilet needs, being appropriately clothed, making use of the home safely, maintaining a habitable home environment, developing and maintaining family or other personal relationships, accessing work/training/education, and using local facilities.

Personal Budgets and Direct Payments

If you have eligible needs and after a financial assessment the council has a duty to pay for some or all of your care, you receive a personal budget. You can receive this as:

Direct Payments — money paid directly to you to arrange your own care
Council-arranged care — the council arranges a care package for you
A combination of both

You have the right to choose Direct Payments. See our Direct Payments guide.

Carer's Assessment

The Care Act significantly strengthened carers' rights. If you care for someone, you have the right to a Carer's Assessment from the council — regardless of the amount of care you provide or whether the person you care for has eligible needs. The assessment looks at your own needs as a carer, and whether you are willing and able to continue caring.

Following a Carer's Assessment, you may be entitled to support from the council — including Direct Payments to take a break.

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