At the end of October 2024, the Chancellor delivered the new Labour government’s first Budget.
The Budget is when the government say what they are going to spend money on, and how they are going to raise the money to pay for the spending. One way the government raises money is through tax, which everyone pays on things like some foods and drinks, or from your wages if you have a job.
Here’s a quick look at some of the changes announced and how they might impact on people with a learning disability and their families.
Health
The Chancellor announced that the NHS will receive an extra £22.6 billion for day-to-day spending. This money will allow the NHS to meet
the government
The Government are the people who run the country. The Government decide how much
tax
Tax is the money that pays for things like schools, hospitals and the police. There are different types of taxes like
income tax
Income tax is the money that is taken out of the money you earn every month. It helps to pay for things we all need like hospitals and schools.
,
VAT
VAT is also called Value Added Tax. VAT is the extra money you pay when you buy things. The money goes to the government to pay for things like schools and hospitals.
and
council tax
Council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
Tax is the money that people pay to the
council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. It helps to pay for things like social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
.
people should pay and how things like the National Health
Service
A service gives people what they need, like healthcare services that help people when they are ill, and support services that give people support.
(NHS) should work.
's commitment to deliver 40,000 more appointments per week and reduce waiting times.
There was no detail on how this investment might help people with a
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
, such as funding for more Learning Disability Nurses, so we will be pushing for this to be properly resourced in our work on the new long-term plan for health and government that NHS England have started work on.
Adult social care
We welcome the news that there will be an extra £600 million of funding for social care services next year.
Although that seems a lot of money, we know that even more funding is needed in the long-term so that social care providers can give better social care to all people with a learning disability who need social care. We also want to see care workers get better pay and recognition for the work they do.
Mencap will continue to push for this through our support of the Show Us You Care campaign lead by the Care and Support Alliance.
Household Support Fund
We welcome the news that the government will give a further £1 billion to extend the Household Support Fund so it can continue to 2025-26. The Household Support Fund is used by local councils to support
vulnerable
Being vulnerable means being at risk of harm, or that you need special care because of your age or disability.
people who struggle to afford food, water and energy bills, and essential items.
Mencap and other charities have been campaigning for this to be extended, so this is good news for people with a learning disability and their families who rely on this support.
But the government must also plan for long-term funding for local crisis support and fix the problems with social security payments so that people don’t fall into financial crisis in the first place.
Benefits
The Chancellor confirmed that the government would continue with
cuts
Cuts are when there is less money to pay for things like clubs and support.
to benefits spending.
We are expecting the details of how they will do this in Spring next year and we will be working to ensure that people with a learning disability are listened to, and make sure that Personal Independence Payments (PIP) meets their needs.
Employment and support in work
The announcement of a £240 million investment as part of the upcoming Get Britain Working
White Paper
A White Paper is a report that is written by the government. It talks about new rules the government wants to make.
and £115m for a new programme called Connect to Work will help change the way people with a learning disability are supported into work.
We welcome this funding and will be working with the government to make sure that they work for people with a learning disability.
Our
research
Research is a way of finding out information which could come from books, or asking people what they think.
found that 86% of people with a learning disability want a job, but the support just isn’t there for them. We hope this investment will help change that.
What do you think about the Budget?
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Policy Shaper
Policy Shapers
Policy Shapers are a group of people with a learning disability and their families who help Mencap by answering surveys each month. The surveys help Mencap tell decision makers what life is like for people with a learning disability.
are a group of people with a learning disability and their families who help Mencap by answering surveys each month. The surveys help Mencap tell decision makers what life is like for people with a learning disability.
and you can have your say.
Policy Shapers are people with a learning disability and their family members who support us by answering a short
Easy Read
Easy Read is a way of making written information easier to understand. Pictures are usually added next to the writing.
survey each month.
Your responses help us make laws, policies and services better for people with a learning disability. Sign up today and help us tell the government and decision-makers what life is like for people with a learning disability.
Become a Policy Shaper
Policy Shapers help us tell the government and decision-makers what life is like for people with a learning disability.
By being a Mencap Policy Shaper, you can help to make sure that these people hear your voice.