Autumn Budget 2024: Part of this government’s job must be rebuilding trust with disabled people
Responding to the Budget, our Head of Advocacy Amy Little says the Government must do more for disabled people. She explains why social care urgently needs much more investment.
There was sadly no reference to disabled people in the Chancellor's Budget speech, despite comprising nearly 1 in 4 of our population. The nearest mention was confirmation of reform and cuts to health and disability benefits, which will leave many disabled people with fear and uncertainty unless further clarity is provided. Part of this government's job must be rebuilding trust with disabled people.
Some measures will benefit disabled people
Some measures in the Budget will benefit disabled people – such as a new supported employment programme, additional funding to support home adaptations and an extension of the Household Support Fund to assist those struggling with the cost of living.
Social Care: the poor relation
But amongst the fanfare of fixing foundations, just £600 million was announced for adult and child social care. Once again social care, which is vital to working-age disabled people as well as older people, was the poor relation – with its additional funding dwarfed by the £22 billion announced for the NHS. This is despite recent promises of a plan for adult social care alongside the NHS 10-year plan. Fixing the NHS requires fixing social care through proper long-term funding and reform.
More funding needed just for imminent changes
Local authorities and social care providers are struggling to cope with increased demand, historic underfunding and rising costs. The National Living Wage increase will be welcomed by the social care workforce, with 131,000 vacancies in the sector, but further funding must be forthcoming to pay for it and to support providers to meet additional national insurance contributions.
Without adequate government funding, hard-hit local councils will be forced to make further cuts to available provision and more people will go without essential care.