In his Spring Statement today (Wednesday 13th March 2019) the Chancellor did not make any commitments to the funding of social care.
“Another opportunity has passed and once again the Government has failed to deliver the funding for social care services that unpaid carers and those they support desperately need.
“Without immediate investment in care services – as well as plans for sustainable long term funding - the pressure on families providing unpaid care is only going to increase. We know that carers are already under a lot of strain, with the vast majority of (72%) reporting poor mental health and two in five unable to take a break from their caring role in the last year.
“Carer’s Allowance, the main benefit for people caring unpaid for more than 35 hours a week, is still the lowest benefit of its kind and those who rely on this support face a never-ending struggle to make ends meet, some forgoing essentials such as food and heating. It’s high time the Government made it fairer for carers and raised Carer’s Allowance throughout the UK – as has already been done in Scotland.
“The Government’s upcoming Spending Review must ensure better financial support for carers and enable them to have a break. Carers have already waited over two years for the Government’s Green Paper on social care so it is imperative that this too has their huge contribution to our society and the economy – worth £132 billion a year – at its heart."