New legislation may cause councils to cut funding for vulnerable people
According to Inside Housing:
Thousands of vulnerable people are at risk of losing support under new care legislation passed last month, research by Inside Housing has found.
Housing associations warned that the Care Act, which requires councils to fund care for adults in ‘substantial’ and ‘critical’ care need from 2015, but not for those in ‘moderate’ or ‘low’ need, would place more strain on landlords’ housing-related support services and inflict ‘damage’ on tenants. Research by Inside Housing shows that 11,520 individuals across England with moderate or low needs still receive state funding for their care, so are at risk of losing support.
Councils are currently allowed to set the threshold at which they fund adult social care, and under the legislation could continue to pay for people with moderate needs. However charities have argued that the national eligibility guidelines will incentivise councils to cut care for people with moderate and low needs.
Responding to Inside Housing’s freedom of information requests to the 26 upper tier authorities still funding moderate care in 2011/12, Sunderland Council – which currently funds care for 2,483 people in low and moderate need – said it would now be reviewing its threshold as part of its implementation of the care act.
Steve Parker, director of health and social care at 45,000-home Home Group, expressed concern over the ‘potential damage on [our tenants]’ as councils no longer funded preventative services to stop people becoming homeless or unable to carry out day-to-day tasks.
Bruce Moore, chief executive of 15,500-home Housing 21, said the Care Act’s eligibility criteria would mean some tenants were unable to ‘get the help they require’.
A Department of Health spokesperson said: ‘Our Care Act consultation makes it clear that people, whatever their level of need, will receive help from their councils. Those with lower needs will receive advice on what services and support are available locally to help them.’