Last Updated: October 29, 2026

Table of Contents

• Is There a Care Act 2026?
• What the Care Act 2014 Does for Families
  • Who the Act Applies To
  • Local Authority Duties and the Wellbeing Principle
• How to Request a Care Act Needs Assessment
  • Preparing for the Assessment
  • What Happens During the Assessment
  • After the Assessment
• The Care Act Eligibility Criteria Explained
• Your Rights Under a Carer’s Assessment Under the Care Act
• What Goes Into a Care and Support Plan
  • Reviews and Changes to Your Plan
• How the Care Act Interacts with Children’s Legislation
  • Worked Examples for Different Family Situations
  • Regional Scope and Where to Get Help
• Arranging Home Care and Support With Care Managers
• Frequently Asked Questions

Is There a Care Act 2026?

No. There is no Care Act 2026. The legislation that shapes adult care and support in England is the Care Act 2014, and it remains the governing law. When families search for the “care act 2026”, they are usually looking for one of three things: the current rules as they apply this year, the reforms that have been repeatedly delayed, or the children’s legislation that came into force in 2026 and is sometimes confused with adult social care.

This guide from Care Managers cuts through that confusion. Below, we explain what the care act actually requires of councils, how to request an assessment, and what happens at each stage.

The key distinction matters: adult care and support sits under the Care Act 2014, while children’s social care is governed by the Children and Families Act 2014 and related regulations. Mixing the two up leads families to ask for the wrong thing from the wrong department.

What the Care Act 2014 Does for Families

The Care Act 2014 is the statute that sets out how local authorities in England must assess, fund and arrange care and support for adults. Its central purpose is to promote individual wellbeing rather than simply manage crisis.

The Act sets out duties for councils to promote wellbeing, provide information and advice, and assess adults who appear to have care and support needs.

Who the Act Applies To

The Act covers adults aged 18 and over who have needs for care and support, and carers of any age who provide or intend to provide care. It applies whether those needs arise from age, illness, disability, or a mental health condition. A diagnosis is not required. What matters is the effect the needs have on the person’s daily life and wellbeing.

Local Authority Duties and the Wellbeing Principle

Alongside that sit concrete duties: to assess, to meet eligible needs, to carry out a financial assessment where care is arranged, and to safeguard adults at risk of abuse or neglect. These are legal duties, not discretionary favours.

How to Request a Care Act Needs Assessment

A Care Act needs assessment is a free assessment carried out by the local authority to establish whether you or your relative has care and support needs and, if so, what those needs are. The assessment is not a test of income or savings, it is about the effect your needs have on your daily life and wellbeing. You can request one by contacting the adult social care team at your local council, by phone, online form or in writing. You do not need a referral from a GP, though a GP can help. You can request an assessment for yourself, and a relative or friend can request one on someone’s behalf if that person lacks the capacity to do so or consents to it. Councils must assess where it appears an adult has needs, even if the person is not asking for support.

Preparing for the Assessment

Before the assessor visits, gather any information that shows how needs affect daily life. This might include a list of medications, correspondence from health professionals, a diary of a typical week, and notes on the tasks that are difficult or unsafe. It helps to think about the worst days, not the best. Describe the worst days, not the best.

What Happens During the Assessment

A trained assessor, usually a social worker or care assessor, will speak with the person about daily living: washing, dressing, preparing meals, managing medication, getting out of the house, and keeping safe. They should also ask what matters to the person, not just what is wrong. The assessor will consider the person’s wellbeing, including personal dignity, physical and mental health, control over daily life, and participation in work, education and social activities. You are entitled to have a relative, friend or advocate present if that helps you communicate your needs.

After the Assessment

For a plain-English walkthrough of what the process involves, see our guide to what a typical home care assessment involves.

The Care Act Eligibility Criteria Explained

If needs are eligible, the council must meet them. If they are not, the council must still provide information and advice, and may offer support to prevent needs worsening. Eligibility is a threshold for funded support, not a judgement on how much someone is struggling.

Your Rights Under a Carer’s Assessment Under the Care Act

If you want to understand how a personal budget can put you in control of your own support, our plain guide to self-directed care explains the options.

What Goes Into a Care and Support Plan

If you are wondering how care at home can be paid for through council support, NHS funding or benefits, our home care funding guide for families sets out the routes.

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Reviews and Changes to Your Plan

Needs can change, particularly with progressive conditions such as dementia or Parkinson’s. A review can be an opportunity to raise concerns.

To understand the process in more detail, read our guide to what a care review involves and how it should work for your family.

How the Care Act Interacts with Children’s Legislation

The two systems meet at transition. When a young person with care needs approaches adulthood, the local authority must plan for the move to adult social care, and a transition assessment should take place before the young person turns 18. Getting this wrong causes real distress: families can find support abruptly re-assessed under adult eligibility rules that are stricter than the children’s framework. A common pattern is that children’s services and adult services do not communicate well, so the family is left to bridge the gap. If your family is navigating this boundary, ask the council in writing how it is planning the transition. Put the question early. Do not assume the two departments are talking to each other, because often they are not.

Worked Examples for Different Family Situations

Consider a young carer under 18 who helps look after a parent. The young carer has a right to a carer’s assessment under the Children and Families Act 2014, and the parent has a right to an assessment under the Care Act 2014. The two assessments should be coordinated, but in practice they are often handled by different teams. Another example is a disabled young person approaching adulthood: the transition assessment should identify adult care needs early, and the family should ask for a copy of the transition plan. A third example is an adult with a progressive condition such as dementia: the Care Act 2014 applies, and the family can request a review at any time as needs change.

Regional Scope and Where to Get Help

The Care Act 2014 framework discussed here applies to England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own adult social care legislation and regulators. If you are unsure which local authority area you fall under, check the council’s website or ask the adult social care team. For independent advice, you can contact your local Healthwatch or a national advice organisation such as Age UK or Carers UK. These organisations can explain how to request an assessment, how to challenge a decision, and how to access advocacy if you need support to have your say.

Arranging Home Care and Support With Care Managers

Once a plan is in place, the practical question is who delivers it. At Care Managers, we provide home care, live-in care and supported living across South Wales and England, with care plans built around individual routines and preferences.

We offer faith-based home care, and our services are backed by reliable communication.

If you are ready to put a plan into action, our practical guide on arranging home care without the stress walks through the steps.

Understanding the Care Act is one thing; finding care you can trust is another. If you are arranging support for someone you love, we can help you build a plan that fits their routines, their faith and their independence. Get started with Care Managers and arrange a conversation about home care, live-in care or supported living tailored to your family.

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