FACS is the national eligibility framework for Social Care. It has four levels; Low, Moderate, Substantial and Critical. The Department of Health definitions for these are:

Critical – when

• Life is, or will be, threatened; and/or
• Significant health problems have developed or will develop; and/or
• There is, or will be, little or no choice and control over vital aspects of the immediate environment; and/or
• Serious abuse or neglect has occurred or will occur; and/or
• There is, or will be, an inability to carry out vital personal care or domestic routines; and/or
• Vital involvement in work, education or learning cannot or will not be sustained; and/or
• Vital social support systems and relationships cannot or will not be sustained; and/or
• Vital family and other social roles and responsibilities cannot or will not be undertaken.

Substantial – when

• There is, or will be, only partial choice and control over the immediate environment; and/or
• Abuse or neglect has occurred or will occur; and/or
• There is, or will be, an inability to carry out the majority of personal care or domestic routines; and/or
• Involvement in many aspects of work, education or learning cannot or will not be sustained; and/or
• The majority of social support systems and relationships cannot or will not be sustained; and/or
• The majority of family and other social roles and responsibilities cannot or will not be undertaken.

Moderate – when

• There is, or will be, an inability to carry out several personal care or domestic routines; and/or
• Involvement in several aspects of work, education or learning cannot or will not be sustained; and/or
• Several social support systems and relationships cannot or will not be sustained; and/or
• Several family and other social roles and responsibilities cannot or will not be undertaken.

Low – when

• There is, or will be, an inability to carry out one or two personal care or domestic routines; and/or
• Involvement in one or two aspects of work, education or learning cannot or will not be sustained; and/or
• One or two social support systems and relationships cannot or will not be sustained; and/or
• One or two family and other social roles and responsibilities cannot or will not be undertaken.