Eligibility for financial support with care costs
To qualify for financial support with your care costs, you must be assessed under the Care Act 2014.
Unpaid fees
If you've received a text, call or email from Lewisham Council regarding unpaid adult social care fees, pay now or contact us.
This means your eligibility depends on:
- your care needs – Whether you require support with daily tasks
- your financial situation – A means test will determine if you need to contribute
- your residency – You must be a resident of Lewisham to access council-funded support.
How is eligibility decided?
1. Care needs assessment
A social worker or care professional from the Council will assess whether you meet the national eligibility criteria:
- you must have a physical, mental, or cognitive impairment
- you must struggle with at least two daily living tasks, such as:
- personal care (washing, dressing)
- meal preparation
- managing medications
- accessing community activities
Your difficulties must have a significant impact on your wellbeing.
If you meet these criteria, you will be eligible for a personal budget to pay for care.
2. Financial assessment (Means test)
- if you qualify for care, the Financial Assessment team will determine if you need to pay towards your care costs
- if you have savings over £23,250, you will need to pay the full cost (self-funding)
- if your savings are below this threshold, the council will calculate your contribution based on income, savings, and expenses
Some services are provided free of charge, including:
- reablement support (for up to six weeks)
- mental health aftercare (Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983)
- NHS Continuing Healthcare
What happens if you are not eligible?
- if you do not meet the care needs criteria, the council can still provide advice and signposting to support services
- if you have too much in savings, you will need to self-fund your care
Need help?
Contact our Gateway team for advice.
How to request an assessment
Call Lewisham Council Adult Social Care: 020 8314 7777.
Published on: 24/07/2025