Counting the Cost of Living: Disability Related Expenditure and Income Maximisation

There are 2.6 million adults aged 50+ in England living with some unmet need for care and support, including essential support with bathing, showering and managing their nutritional needs. Meanwhile many adults with disabilities find that their social care support packages are being cut as part of Government demanded efficiency savings, and / or their assessed contributions have increased. This is all at the same time as the tensions created by the cost of living crisis. This talk will look at:

• Quick steps to maximise our clients’ welfare benefits and other sources of financial support
• How to challenge social services about our clients’ Disability Related Expenditure within the means-tested social care financial assessment process
• Public law arguments to fight cuts to our clients’ social care package, to ensure that our clients receive adequate support to remain at home

Cate Searle, Director and Head of Community Care Law – Martin Searle Solicitors