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Counsel and Care claims huge differences in council charges for social care are placing older people at risk.

In a survey of local authorities published today, Counsel and Care finds councils’ maximum weekly charge for older people’s services range from £3.91 to £315.90.

And the report on the spending patterns of 33 local authorities also says 39 per cent do not cap charges.

These charges are a potential “drain” on pensioners’ incomes that policy makers must address, the report warns.

Counsel and Care chief executive Stephen Burke called for councils that do not have a maximum charge to introduce one.

“We were surprised that two-fifths of local authorities do not have maximum guidelines and we hope that they consider introducing one,” he said.

The report also finds that almost a third – 32 per cent – of surveyed councils tightened their eligibility criteria for adult services in the past year.

Burke said this represented a “further move away” from preventive services and could cost the government more money in the long run.

Stephen Burke writes an online Blog for our website