For service users who rely on benefits, the Queen's speech brought no relief

It is not just the lack of funding for social care in comparison with the NHS that makes things seem bleak

If the Queen’s speech is anything to go by, the prospects for social care and its service users are bleak. But they may be even worse than expected, because we have been looking in the wrong direction.

Attention has so far focused on how social care will fare under this government’s proposals for the NHS. Fears have been raised that it would stay the poor relation in the partnership, lacking the protection afforded the NHS by its public popularity. These are justified concerns. However, for social care service users, there may be even greater reason for concern. These arise out of the government’s continuing commitment to far-reaching welfare reform.

Related: The Queen's speech must not treat social care as the poor cousin of the NHS

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