Mencap warn that the Chancellor has not done enough to prevent the
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
sector moving closer to collapse.
Social care
On social care Jan Tregelles, CEO of Mencap, said:
"The care system is critically under-funded. Many 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. are not getting the vital care and support they need, so are stuck at home with nothing to do, isolated and scared about the future.
"The 2% 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 (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
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
The Government are the people who run the country. The Government decide how much tax people should pay and how things like the National Health Service (NHS) should work. to pay for things like schools and hospitals. and council tax. is the money that people pay to the council
A wage is the money you get for doing a paid job. . The majority of the additional money is therefore likely to go on implementing the National Living Wage rather than expanding access to care.
"The Chancellor has not done enough to prevent the social care sector moving closer to collapse. This would have devastating consequences on people with a learning disability, and when combined with cuts
Cuts are when there is less money to pay for things like clubs and support. to housing and employment
Employment means having a job. benefits could lead to many people with a learning disability to live in crisis. This would be a significant step back in our fight for a world where people with a learning disability are fully included in our society."
Lorainne Bellamy, Mencap
spokesperson
A spokesperson is someone who speaks up about something. They usually speak up on behalf of a group or
organisation
An organisation are a group of people who work together.
.
, said:
"I have a learning disability and have been living on my own now for seven years. My supporter helps me with letters about my tax credits which are really difficult to understand. She helps me read and understand my telephone bills, my gas bills, my insurance and my statements from the bank. She has helped me set up direct debits so I can pay my bills and not get into debt. I used to not get any support at home, I struggled a lot, but this help has made a real difference.
"I know how important the support I have had has been in allowing me to be independent. I am worried that there are people worse off than me who dont get any support at all and worry about what happens to them. The government need to make sure people with a learning disability and their families get the right support."
Benefits
On benefits, Jan Tregelles, said:
"The Chancellor needs to urgently explain whether the Government plans to extend the conditionality on Job Seekers Allowance to sick and disabled people who receive Employment and Support Allowance
Employment and Support Allowance is sometimes called ESA. It is a benefit for people who find it harder to get a job because of a disability or a long term health condition. (ESA), as many today fear. If true this will make a harsh regime of benefit sanctions, that places unrealistic demands on disabled people, even harsher to those people who rely on support from benefits for their independence
Independence means doing things on your own. Making your own choices. , health and to access their community
A community is the people and places in an area. .
"People with a learning disability who are currently on ESA would stand to lose their entire benefit rather than a portion of it if they failed to meet this new conditionality. This comes at a time when almost 7 in 10 disabled people have said cuts to ESA would cause their health to suffer and 40% would become more isolated. This fear and uncertainty will add to the devastating effects the Governments reform of welfare is causing people with a learning disability."
"The Chancellor announced cuts to Housing Benefit, which could seriously impact on people with a learning disability living in social housing and specialist supported housing, jeopardising their ability to live independently in their communities."
Health
On health, Jan Tregelles, continued:
"We welcome the money made available to the NHS. This money has to go to honouring NHS Englands commitment to close institutions like Winterbourne View and bring people with a learning disability and behaviour that challenges back to their local community. While, the government also need to ensure that hospitals do more to end the scandal of the 1,200 people with a learning disability dying avoidably within the NHS every year."