As the Coronavirus Act is reviewed in parliament today amidst rising concern at the government's handling of the measures, an openDemocracy investigation highlights the devastating impact an under-discussed aspect of the Act has had on disabled people. The Act gives councils ongoing powers to reduce vital social care duties through a system known as “easements”, which allow councils to opt out of their duties under the 2014 Care Act if they met certain conditions. An umbrella group of 60 disability organisations, backed by over 30 peers, are urging the government to either amend the Coronavirus Act or at least “switch off the Care Act easement powers” and restore disabled people’s legal rights to adequate social care.
Through Freedom of Information requests and interviews with people receiving social care in their own homes, and their advocates, openDemocracy has uncovered:
