Respite Care: Coronavirus

(asked on 4th June 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to help ensure that unpaid carers have been able to take a break from their caring role during the covid-19 outbreak.


Answered by
Helen Whately Portrait
Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
This question was answered on 10th June 2021

The Government recognises that access to breaks provides important support for people with care needs and their carers during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have provided approximately £1.8 billion in specific funding for adult social care. This includes the £1.35 billion Infection Control Fund, which has been used towards supporting day centres to re-open safely.

In addition, we have also supported the provision of respite within caring ‘bubbles’ ensuring that the COVID-19 restrictions allowed household mixing when providing care and respite for other carers. We have also provided over £2 billion this year to the Better Care Fund which local authorities can access to fund social care services in their areas including respite services.

No assessment has been made of providing an extra £50 is personal budgets to help carers access breaks from their caring. Local authorities are responsible for assessing individual’s eligibility for support as set out in the Care Act 2014. Carers have legal rights to an assessment of, and support for, their needs where eligible. Following the assessment, the local authority will decide if the carer is eligible for support. Support could be provided by the local authority, or in the form of a direct payment or personal budget.

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