COUNCILS are concerned the government’s adult social care reforms are set to be “significantly underfunded,” the Local Government Association (LGA) warned yesterday.

The organisation found that 98 per cent of the 80 English councils questioned were not confident that earmarked funding for the reforms would be sufficient.

Three-quarters also said they were not confident they have enough front-line staff to deliver the changes.

The government introduced in a new health and social care tax in April to raise £36 billion over the next three years, of which £5.4bn is ringfenced for social care reforms.

The LGA’s criticisms follow research from the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services which estimated in May that more than 500,000 adults are waiting for social care in England.

LGA Community Wellbeing board chairman councillor David Fothergill said: “Underfunding these reforms will only exacerbate pre-existing significant pressures, which the reforms — and the funding for them — do nothing to address.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We have made it clear reforming adult social care is a priority and we are investing £5.4bn over the next three years to end spiralling care costs and support the workforce.”