Vulnerable adults could lose vital support services because of changes in the way their needs are assessed.

East Sussex County Council is revising the criteria it uses to decide what kind of support a person can have. This can range from a nursing home place to extra help in their own property.

The revised criteria will take into account the urgency of the person's needs when social care assessments are carried out. People with critical or substantial needs will be eligible for social care support. Critical is where the support is needed immediately or within seven days and substantial is where the need for support is within six weeks.

Keith Glazier, lead cabinet member for adults and children's services, said "The poor government grants we have received in recent years means our priority has to be to support vulnerable people in greatest need and to make sure our resources are focussed on them.

"The eligibility criteria will be used for all new and existing clients and the support people will receive will be dependent on an individual assessment.

"The level of support people receive may increase but in some cases it may reduce or be removed. We acknowledge that this may be difficult and upsetting but if this happens we will be giving people information about where else they may be able to receive support."

The new criteria have been developed from the national framework known as Fair Access to Care Services, introduced by government in 2003.

A county council spokesman said: "Any savings that may be made through any changes will be invested into the department."

A spokesman for Age Concern said: "This is worrying."