Social care should be there for all who need it
Disabled people are calling for social care to be made available to anyone who requires it, following Government announcements that restrict new free services to people over 65.
Social care is the web of support we can weave to allow people to live full lives, easily and independently, regardless of our age or circumstances.
Health services in the UK are covered by the NHS. However, people must pay if they require assistance to wash, dress, eat, get around, see people and live a full life.
Details vary depending on where someone lives, but broadly: The amount people must pay is affected by how much they earn, their future pension, any social security they receive, and any savings they have.
The high levels of payment mean that some Disabled people are prevented from marrying the person they love, because they will lose access to the paid social care they require if they have a partner with pensions or savings.
Disabled people are or blocked from buying a home, because saving up will mean they lose their paid social care. The policy blocks Disabled people from saving for pensions, even if they know their condition will worsen with age.
The policy traps Disabled people in poverty, and prevents us from preparing for the future.
A new National Care Service
An exciting announcement about a new National Care Service brought hope to many people. It acknowledged that in our society people care about each other, and services should be available to anyone who needs them.
Campaigners hoped for something similar to the Scottish model, which has provided personal care for anyone who needs it since 2019, regardless of their age.
However, in a huge blow, the new service has been restricted. Disabled people under retirement age will be ineligible for free care.
Have your say on social care
Baroness Casey is carrying out a review of social care in the UK. The remaining hope to change this situation now rests upon the outcome of the Casey Commission in 2027.
To date the Commission has received almost 8000 proposals and nearly 800,000 opinions on them.
If you have personal experiences of adult social care, you can share these, and your views, with the Commission.
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