LGA launches its adult social care paper

The Local Government Association has launched a nationwide consultation on how to pay for adult social care and rescue the services caring for older and disabled people from collapse.

With underfunded councils witnessing adult social care services to breaking point, the Local Government Association (LGA) has set out an eight-week consultation setting out options for how the system could be improved and the radical measures that need to be considered given the scale of this funding crisis.

Latest figures show that councils in England receive 1.8 million new requests for adult social care a year – the equivalent of nearly 5,000 a day – but this coincides with adult social care services facing a £3.5 billion funding gap by 2025.

Possible solutions established in the paper include increasing income tax for taxpayers of all ages by 1p to raise £4.4 billion in 2024/25, increasing national insurance by 1p which could raise £10.4 billion in 2024/25, and charging the over-40s and working pensioners an earmarked contribution in what would be seen as a social care premium. If it was assumed everyone over 40 was able to pay the same amount, raising £1 billion would mean a cost of £33.40 for each person aged 40+ in 2024/25.

The LGA green paper - alongside funding issues – also seeks to start a much-needed debate about how to shift the overall emphasis of our care and health system so that it focuses far more on preventative, community-based personalised care, which helps maximise people’s health, wellbeing and independence and alleviates pressure on the NHS.

Izzi Seccombe, chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Our green paper is the start of a nationwide public debate about the future of care for all adults, and how best to support their wellbeing, and we encourage as many people and organisations to have their say on how we pay for it and the responsibilities of citizens, families and communities. Adult social care and support matters. We must fund it for the long-term so that people of all ages can be supported to live the life they want to live. Building a better society means ensuring that everyone receives the care they need to lead a good life: well, independent and at home for as long as possible. This process must start now.”