Urgent help: In an emergency call 999. For urgent medical help call NHS 111 or go to 111.nhs.uk. Otherwise, contact your GP. In a mental health crisis, call 111 and choose the mental health option.

Social Care Made Easy

In short: Free, plain guides to adult social care first, then benefits. Find your council, ask for a free care assessment, and use our free letters.
A friendly drawing of a person holding a map with a clear, winding path to a flag.

Simple guides to adult social care and UK disability benefits. Short words. Clear steps. Every fact links to where it came from.

Written by Social Care Made Easy.

What do you need help with?

Choose one. Each button opens plain, free guides.

NHS care (CHC)

Aids and equipment

Find my council


Nothing is saved. Or use GOV.UK find your local council.

New: Find your local social care
Type your postcode. Get a link to ask your council for a free care assessment. Nothing is saved. New: Self-check — what help could I get?
Answer a few simple questions. See what you may be able to get. Free and private.

Adult social care

Carers

Money & benefits

Children

Help for disabled children, and children's social care, also comes from your council. Use Find my council and ask for children's services. Free advice: Contact, the charity for families with disabled children. (Our children's guides are coming soon.)

Examples

Example A daughter worried about her dad. Her dad, 82, was struggling to wash and cook. She rang his council and asked for a needs assessment. A social worker visited two weeks later. He now gets a carer each morning.
Example A man caring for his wife. He was exhausted. He asked for a carer's assessment. The council arranged a few hours of respite a week, so he could rest.
Example A long wait. A family heard nothing for 10 weeks. They sent the complaint letter on this site. The council booked the assessment soon after.

These are made-up examples to show how things can work. They are not real people. Every case is different.

Free help

You do not need to pay anyone to challenge a benefit decision. GOV.UK says it is free to ask for mandatory reconsideration and free to appeal. Free advice: Citizens Advice, Advicenow and Turn2us.

Information only. This page explains official guidance in plain English. It is not legal or medical advice. Rules can change. For advice about your own case, contact Citizens Advice or another free adviser.

Where this applies: England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different rules.

Written by Social Care Made Easy. Last checked: 25 October 2026.