Up to 1.5 million disabled people could be missing out on social care support

Ten years since the Care Act 2014 came into force, a new poll revealed that out of 1,504 working-age disabled adults in England, more than one in four, 28%, could be eligible for support under Care Act criteria but have never had a social care needs assessment.

Across the country, this would translate to around 1.5 million people.

Healthwatch England, which commissioned the poll, identified people who may have unmet social care needs based on their responses—people who said they’re eligible for social care under the Care Act but who have never received social care due to multiple factors: 

• They didn’t think they could get any support (65%);

• They didn’t know where to go for support (34%);

• They were unable to afford to pay for care or contributions (26%);

• They found it too difficult to get support from councils or the NHS (14%);

• Their local service closed; (2%).  

The poll also found that when people receive social care, they generally report positive experiences.  

Out of 20% of respondents who said they currently receive social care, over three quarters, 78%, agreed that the care they receive helps them live the life they want, compared to only nine per cent who disagreed with the statement.  

Two-thirds (62%) of the respondents who receive social care said it helps them stay healthy, while over half, 51%, said it helps them do the activities they enjoy.  

Just under half, 47%, said that their care enables them to keep themselves and their home clean, and the same number said it supports them to eat and drink properly. Just over one in five, 22%, of people said that their care supports them in working, studying, or volunteering.

Under the Care Act, people may be eligible for social care support if their needs arise from a physical impairment or illness that negatively affects their ability to perform tasks quickly, independently, and safely, while also affecting their wellbeing.  

However, the extent to which eligibility might apply to more disabled people will remain unknown until people can easily interact with social care services or access assessments.

Vicky Marriott, Chief Officer for Healthwatch Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, said:

"Social care can transform people's lives. This new research highlights this and shows how people can live more independently and on their own terms with the right care.

“But they need to get it in the first place.

"We need to ensure that more support is available to disabled people and make accessing it easier.  This will not only help more people with their immediate needs, it will also reduce pressure on the NHS and assist more individuals into work."

We’re calling for dedicated funding for local authorities to raise public awareness of social care, including proactive outreach to people who may be eligible for support, as part of broader social care reform plans.  

As part of the reform plan, Healthwatch England set out the following recommendations:

• The Government should fund local authorities to raise public awareness of social care and find potentially eligible individuals through proactive outreach to disabled people.

• The Government should also dedicate funding to boost capacity and support councils in addressing existing care assessments and care package backlogs.

• There needs to be greater investment to ensure all disabled people accessing social care assessments are offered a Care Act advocate who can help them understand the assessment process and their rights.

In December 2023, we published our report looking at local adult social care services in North Somerset: 'Time to think differently about adult social care'

Included in this report are considerations to take forward:

• a single point of access for information on social care

• clearer signposting where to find information on social care

• explicit information on the care process, how people are assessed and potential outcomes of care assessments

• easily accessible information available

• information people can access independently

• guidance and opportunities in order that people can consider care planning for their future

• information on social prescribing and eligibility for referral

• information on advocacy services and eligibility for these

• accessible information on the financial planning of social care

• accessible language in all social care documents and on the North Somerset Council social care website.