Bradford families feel pressure as care subsidy is scrapped

BBC News

09-06-2025

Thousands of vulnerable people in Bradford could see sharp rises in day care charges from next month, prompting fears many may be forced to cancel lifeline services.Bradford Council has approved plans to phase out a long-standing subsidy known as the "discretionary buffer", which determines how much support the authority gives before people must start paying for their own care.Scrapping it could see some users' weekly care bills rise by up to £58 – over £3,000 a year, according to council figures.The authority has said everyone affected would get a full financial reassessment before being asked to pay more, but affected families have urged the council to reconsider the end of the subsidy.
About 4,000 people - mainly older adults and those with learning disabilities who live, and are cared for, at home - are expected to be affected by the new rules.
Bradford's 25% discretionary buffer, introduced over a decade ago, allowed individuals needing day care to retain more of their income before charges kicked in. The authority said its arrangements had been "generous", but its own financial pressures had forced a rethink.Scrapping the buffer would bring the city in line with other West Yorkshire councils, and was expected to raise £5.6m annually towards the cash-strapped authority's £133m adult social care spend.The council said the buffer would not be removed all at once, but would be phased out over two years - with 50% to go in July this year and the rest in July 2026. However, affected families have said the delay offered little comfort, with a recent public consultation revealing that 17% of respondents feared they would have to cancel their day care services if the charges went through. Nearly 70% of respondents said they would need to cut other household spending or total care hours, while over half expressed concern about the toll on their mental and physical health.
Jo Brearton, a full-time carer in Bradford, told the BBC that if the subsidy was lost, she would have to cancel the only day of external care her 26-year-old son, Danny, received each weekDanny, who is autistic and has complex needs, attends a day centre in Keighley every Friday. Ms Brearton said that single day provided variety in his weekly routine and gave her a rare moment of respite - and its loss could be devastating."That leaves me and Danny at home 24-7," she explained."That one day off from Danny I have, I don't think it's a lot to ask."When that Friday session is gone, that's his routine blown out of the water."He'll be thinking, in his own way, 'why aren't I going?' But he can't explain to me how he's feeling and what he's thinking."
'Sugarcoat the pill'
Ms Brearton said the contribution for Danny's care could jump from £21 to £71 a week under the changes."They might say, 'we'll just do it by 50% this financial year', but that's still an extra £100 a month for me. Next year, it will be £200 a month," she said."Where am I expected to find an extra £2,000 a year?"Ms Brearton said the proposed phased introduction of the changes was the council "trying to sugarcoat the pill"."The council has mismanaged budgets for years. They are now saying, 'we've subsidised you, we're not doing it any longer'. Then they just pull the rug out from your feet," she stated.
Ian MacBeath, the Labour-run authority's strategic director for adult social care and health, said the phased approach "gives people time to make adjustments to their living expenditure so they're more able to manage that financial increase".Speaking at a meeting of the decision-making executive, Mr MacBeath acknowledged the changes would have a "significant financial impact" on some people.But he said: "The council's financial position means we've got to consider this in order to be fair to all residents."Mr MacBeath added that more social workers would assess any cases where people felt pressured to cancel services, to ensure "no one's safety is compromised".Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council's executive member for healthy people and places, said the authority had to make a "difficult decision", but she was "reassured" there would be enough safeguards in place to reduce the burden on families.However, opposition politicians have expressed concerns over the loss of the subsidy.Green Party councillor Neil Whitaker warned that some people "didn't fully understand the increases, or what would happen if they couldn't pay".He suggested that decision-makers "might not have a full picture of the financial challenges people are facing", and urged better overall communication of the changes and their impact.Meanwhile, as she braced for the change to get under way in July, Ms Brearton said: "They say they recognise the burden on families, but all they're doing is piling on even more stress."
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