The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services study found just 26 out of 148 councils will fund people in moderate  or low needs. This works out at a reduction of 13% by local councils.  The move follows a sharp reduction in goverment funding for local councils, however the government shas claimed recently to have ring fenced an extra £2bn a year by 2014-2015 for social care services.

The survey reveals that 19 local councils have raised the eligibility bar for free adult social care. Thhis means only 22 councils in England out of the 148 which responded will now fund those assessed as having moderate needs, down from 36 in 2010. This criteria includes people who are so ill or disabled that they have trouble taking a bath or preparing a meal for themselves.

Andrew Dilnott, chairman of the commission, said there was no doubt that social care was being squeezed and there was “a growing amount of unmet need”.

He said the current system seemed to “invite variability” and “there was merit in trying to find an assessment system… that seems to give people more of a sense that there was fairness and equality across the UK”.

But he said regardless of the cuts, the system needed to be reformed.

Author: admin