Missing millions: exploring hidden and unmet social care need for disabled people

Healthwatch England's new research reveals social care support can be transformative for those who receive it. It can support disabled people to do tasks they would otherwise struggle to do, like cleaning, eating, working, socialising, and staying active.   They surveyed 1,504 disabled adults of working age in February and March 2024.

However, extrapolating  survey data to national level data, Healthwatch found that as many as 1.5 million working-age disabled people in England are not receiving social care support, despite potentially being eligible for care. 

It is unknown how many of this group would formally qualify for public-funded care, joining the 300,000 disabled people who had long-term care paid for by their council in 2022/23. However, the research highlights that too many people are going without support that could help them. 

The report focuses on the positive impact and benefits of good social care on people’s lives, alongside challenges facing the social care system, including hidden demand, unmet need, and under-met need. 

For this report, Healthwatch England are using the following definitions: 

• Hidden demand – potential unmet social care needs under the Care Act. 
• Unmet need – any other needs going unsupported, including daily living activities that don’t meet Care Act eligibility criteria