Now is the time to secure the 'social care system this country desperately needs'

The Budget confirmed what Chancellor George Osborne had already revealed, that the social care cap recommended by the Dilnot Commission will be brought forward a year to 2016, while the cap limit has been reduced from £75,000 to £72,000.

Although the initial reaction to the cap, announced last month, was mixed, with contention over whether a cap significantly higher than the Commission’s recommendation of £35,000 will really make a difference to the lives of people on lower and middle incomes, this is one Budget announcement that has largely been welcomed.

For Councillor David Rogers, chair of the Local Government Association’s community well-being board, the focus has now shifted to the efficacy of the care reforms long awaited.

Mr Rogers comments: “For many older and disabled people bringing forward the introduction of a care cap will be welcome news, but we need to make sure it’s done so in a way that is properly managed and resourced.

“The original timetable of 2017 was already set to be extremely challenging, so it’s now vital that government provides clarity on a timetable for implementation and certainty that any costs associated with the proposed reforms will be fully funded. Local government needs to be closely consulted throughout the coming months.

“Government now has an important job in setting out what the real impact of reform and a care cap will mean to the day-to-day lives of elderly and disabled people who rely on care. It’s vital that people are helped to understand the potential lifetime costs of care and support. These could be much higher than the proposed government cap, which excludes accommodation costs in residential care.”

Mr Rogers further agrees with the majority of care sector campaigners that the social care funding shortfall remains an issue that the reforms have not yet answered. He says:

“We need a system that is fairer, simpler and clearer, but reform will mean very little if the starting point is a system that is massively underfunded and unable to cope with the pressures of our rapidly ageing population.

“Social care budgets have reduced by £1.89bn over the last two years and it isn’t sustainable to take out further significant sums. We would urge government to at least maintain the NHS investment in social care as set out in the 2010 Spending Review, and look at the case for adding to it.

“We need to consider how the health and care systems interact to ensure we remain focused on meeting individuals’ needs while providing better value for money to the taxpayer.

“Local government is united on the need to reform and fund care and support and we’re ready to play our part. Government now needs to work with us to implement and fund the fundamental reforms needed to ensure we have the social care system this country desperately needs.”

Steven Flint, financial and social inclusion manager at care group Anchor, agrees there are many outstanding issues, commenting:

“The Chancellor’s commitment to a reduced cap on social care is welcome news – individuals will be able to plan for the costs of funding their own care and providers will have a more stable market in which to work. However the social care crisis is far from settled – many will still face very significant costs and the changes need to happen quickly to protect both current and future generations of older people.

“Research carried out by Anchor found that one fifth (21 per cent) of adults most fear not having enough money to retire, pay for their care or keep their home when they get older. One third (31 per cent) of 45 to 54 year olds say that not having enough money in old age is their biggest worry.”