The Government's social care system for disabled people is in crisis, with thousands struggling to eat or wash or leave their homes charities have concluded.
A report ‘The Other Care Crisis', published by charities Scope, Mencap, The National Autistic Society, Sense and Leonard Cheshire Disability has found almost 40% of disabled people receiving social care support are not having their basic needs met including eating, washing, dressing or getting out of the house.
The cost of this care has uncovered a funding gap of £1.2bn for the disabled under the age of 65.
The charities added that current Government proposals risk up to 105,000 disabled people failing to get basic support for their day-to-day lives and warn of a social care system on the brink of collapse.
The report added the debate on social care reform has focused on the needs of an ageing population and sidelined disabled people under the age of 65 who rely on care in everyday life.
In the Draft Care and Support Bill, the Government committed to introducing a new national eligibility threshold to end the postcode lottery when it comes to determining who qualifies for state-funded social care support, a move supported by the charities.
However, as a result, it is widely anticipated that the Government will drastically limit the number of disabled people who will continue to receive this support by setting eligibility at 'substantial needs'.
Clare Pelham, Chief Executive of Leonard Cheshire Disability, added: "This new research reveals for the first time how many people are living in the care 'gap' and it is a disgrace. No Government and no right-thinking person should allow this to continue in their street, their town, their country."
The charities urged Government to set eligibility for state-funded social care at 'moderate needs' in order to guarantee the most vulnerable people in society basic support in their daily lives at a time when Government reforms through the Care and Support Bill, are being scrutinised by a Joint Committee of MPs and Peers.
Richard Hawkes, Chief Executive of disability charity Scope, said: "This is shocking evidence of a system that has failed disabled people, effectively condemning them to a life without basic dignity and invisible to society.
"We need an urgent and long-term solution from the Government to lift disabled people out of a life without basic support for the daily tasks that everyone else takes for granted."
