Caroline Abrahams, Co-Chair of the Care and Support Alliance, said:

“So whilst we welcome the Labour Party’s proposals and commitment to invest in care, confining their model only to older people risks creating a two-tier system within which many working age disabled people will find their care needs continue to go unmet. This is unacceptable from the CSA’s point of view since we want any new system to give everyone the care they need, whether they are above or below the age of 65, and to support their Carers too.” 

Useful stats: 

·        At least 1.4 million disabled and older people do not get the care they need.

·         Care and Support Alliance (CSA) (2018) found that more than a quarter (29%) of disabled 18 – 64-year-olds who rely on council funding have had their care cut over the last year. Also regardless of how their care is funded, – nearly half of respondents to the survey told us that because of a lack of care they have experienced not being able to get out of the house (48%) and not being able to work (46%), or have seen their health deteriorate (49%). In addition, nearly a quarter (24%) told us they are unable to move around their homes safely because of not having the social care they need.

·        Working-age adults account for 48% of local authorities’ spend on social care (Personal Social Services: Expenditure and Unit Costs, England – 2015-16 [NS], NHS Digital, October 2016).

·        In addition, PSSRU projections of future costs highlights that public expenditure on social services for younger adults is set to rise from around £8.4bn (0.53% of GDP) in 2015 to £18.4bn (0.73%) in 2035 (at 2015 prices) (Personal Social Services Research Unit, Projections of Demand for and Costs of Social Care for Older people and Younger Adults in England, 2015 to 2035, Economics of Health and Social Care Systems Policy Research Unit, 2015)