Over 150,000 people will get at least £400 back in their pockets to help with the cost of living, thanks to government action to support adults with disabilities
Government is increasing the amount that working age adults who receive social care must be able to keep after paying for home care (known as the Minimum Income Guarantee) by 7% from April – strengthening this safety net to ensure that people have enough for daily expenses and helping to ease financial pressures.
This is the largest above-inflation uplift in more than a decade and means working-age adults receiving care in the community will have more money left over for everyday essentials such as food, heating and bills. Those eligible for the disability premium, an additional amount for people with greater disability needs, will keep up to £510 more per year.
The government has also confirmed £723 million for the Disabled Facilities Grant next year to help older and disabled people adapt their homes so they can live safely and independently. The DFG supported around 60,000 people last year and it helps keep people out of hospital and living comfortably in their own homes.
The changes form part of the government’s action to support those that need it most with the cost of living, while reforming adult social care and improving independence.
From April, the Personal Expenses Allowance, financial support for those in residential care, and the Minimum Income Guarantee for all other age groups (over-65s) will increase by 3.8%.
The Disabled Facilities Grant enables people to make practical changes to their homes – from level-access showers to lifts and smart assistive technology – helping them move around safely, maintain independence and stay connected to family and community.
Home adaptations play a crucial role in supporting the NHS by preventing falls and other accidents in the home, speeding up hospital discharges and reducing admissions, all which ease pressure on the health service and help to shift care out of hospital and into the community.
The government is committed to building a National Care service based on high quality care, choice and control and has appointed Baroness Louise Casey to chair an Independent Commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering this, and her first recommendations are due to be published this year.
To reform adult social care, the government has made available a funding boost of £4.6 billion by 2028-29, including £500 million for the first ever Fair Pay Agreement to bolster the recruitment and retention of care workers. The Fair Pay Agreement is a major step towards boosting the wages of adult social care workers across England. A new body to negotiate changes to pay and terms and conditions for care workers will be set up including both employers and trade unions – driving real change for a workforce that has long been undervalued and underpaid.
Alongside this, the government is improving training and qualifications and has launched the first ever universal career structure for carers.
