Disability and older people's groups are lobbying the Welsh assembly to create a broader definition of disability that would make more people eligible for free personal care when it is introduced.
Both Disability Wales and Age Concern Cymru want all people assessed as needing home care to be classed as disabled and so receive it free. This would do away with the current means-testing system that allows councils to set contribution rates. It is estimated this would cost £18m to fund.
The assembly has committed itself to introducing free home care for disabled people in 2007, but has not yet decided on a definition.
Chair of the assembly's health committee David Melding said he believed the definition should be restricted to that currently used for determining disability allowance.
A working group made up of charities and local government has recommended adopting a broader definition. A consultation paper is due soon.
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