Oldham East and Saddleworth MP, Debbie Abrahams, has called for the government to stop charging VAT on families using community interest companies to provide dementia care for their loved ones.

Last week, Ms Abrahams, who serves as Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Dementia, met with the Filo Project, a community interest company providing dementia day care and respite services which has been campaigning for this VAT charge to be removed. 

Current VAT rules mean that even though projects like Filo are not for profit, they are required to charge the 20 per cent tax because they are a community interest company rather than a charity. 

For families who pay the full cost of dementia care themselves, the VAT costs for two days of care a week day care is nearly £1800 a year.  

Following their meeting, Debbie joined campaigners as they handed in a petition on this to 10 Downing Street. 

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Ms Abrahams cared for her mother Angela, who had Alzheimer’s Disease, and has sought to use her position as a Member of Parliament to help other families and carers experiencing a similar situation through her role on the Dementia APPG and locally through her ‘Dementia Friendly Oldham’ campaign. 

Her work with dementia also includes her annual Memory Walk through Alexandra Park to raise awareness of the disease.

Ms Abrahams MP said: "I believe that our tax system must be both fair and consistent. That’s why I am supporting this call for the Government to stop VAT being charged on any aspect of dementia care. 

"Receiving a dementia diagnosis is challenging enough for any family, but because of the failures to adequately fund social care, families are already footing an unfair Dementia ‘Premium’ for their social care, which the Alzheimer’s Society estimate at over 15 per cent. 

"During this cost of living crisis, the least the Government could do is to remove VAT on Community Interest Companies providing social care like the Filo Project. Their vital work supports people living with dementia keep active and well, as well as providing respite for their family carers."