The Commission on Funding of Care and Support, headed by Andrew Dilnot, set out its blueprint for reforming social care funding on Monday 4 July. Its proposals, which would add £1.7bn to the costs of care in England, include:-
- Capping lifetime individual contributions to care at £35,000. This would cover care at home and in residential care, but not board and lodging costs within care homes.
- Providing free care for those who develop needs before they reach 40.
- Raising the means-test threshold for savings below which people become eligible for state-funded residential care from £23,250 to £100,000.
- Standardising contributions to board and lodging costs in residential care at between £7,000 and £10,000 a year.
- Introducing a national system of assessment and eligibility, initially set at substantial need.
- Retaining disability benefits paid to people with care needs, but rebranding attendance allowance
The commission believes the reforms would mean that no one would spend more than 30% of their assets on care, compared with 90% now.
Health secretary Andrew Lansley said the government welcomed the proposals but has warned they may prove too costly to implement in full. A full government response will not be made until a White Paper next spring.
Have your say on the Dilnot reforms on CareSpace.