Thank you for contacting me about supporting parent carers.
NHS England has been working to support more young people with complex health needs to access personal health budgets (PHBs). These are available for people eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare. PHBs give more choice in the type of support required to ensure greater quality of life and improved experience of care.
As you may well be aware, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children can help with the extra costs of looking after a disabled child. Families can receive up to £145.35 a week depending on the level of help a child needs, which makes an important contribution to meeting the additional costs disability can pose. Greater provision has also been made for social care to be delivered at home. Councils have been provided with access to up to £3.6 billion more dedicated funding for adult social care this year and up to £3.9 billion for next year. The Autumn Budget also announced an additional £55 million in 2018-19 for the Disabled Facilities Grant to provide home aids and adaptations for disabled children and adults on low incomes.
I was unfortunately unable to attend the meeting in Westminster on the 26th June due to prior commitments. I was nevertheless glad that the meeting raised awareness for the continued need to support those receiving care, and those who care for them.