One week left to express views over cap on care costs

Care professionals are being urged to provide their views on the introduction of the cap on care costs which aims to protect an individual from care costs rising above £72,000.

As well as professionals responsible for delivering care, the Department of Health wants to hear from people who have experienced social care to provide their views on a new appeal system before the legislation comes into force.

The consultation is open until 30 March.

Minister of State for Care and Support, Norman Lamb, said: “I urge you to take part in this consultation. There are many details to thrash out. We need your views, your expertise and certainly your help to make these reforms a reality.

“The Care Act 2014 is a shining example of policy and legislation developed and fine-tuned through full and frank conversations, not just with those working in or with the health and care system, but the people it exists to serve.”

The cap on care costs, set at £72,000 per person, has already received criticism because of a lack of clarity over what costs are and are not included towards the cap.

Costs for care to meet eligible care and support needs will be included in the limit but daily living costs such as care home accommodation charges and food costs will not be covered. Additional top up fees paid to meet the extra costs of care not provided by local authorities will not contribute to the cap of care costs.

A number of anonymous comments have already been made in response to the consultation in areas that include measuring what counts towards the cap, the scope of the appeals system and the effect of the cap on care for working aged adults.

In response to a question raised by the Department of Health through the consultation on the clarity of guidance about how independent budgets should be calculated, one anonymous commenter said: “It seems rather bizarre that Local Authority payments count towards the cap but Continuing Health Care payments do not. This creates perverse situations whereby people who are more unwell make progress towards the cap at a slower rate than people who are healthier, as the less healthy person is part-CHC funded. It also encourages people to remain ill as becoming healthier exposes them to the £72,000 cost, which they make no progress towards whilst they are ill.

“I suggest that CHC payments should count towards the cap in the same way that LA payments do.”

Another responding to the consultation looking for views on whether the draft regulations and guidance will protect people against facing ‘catastrophic’ care cost said: “The framework is such that those who face care costs in excess of £72k will clearly be protected. However, the extent of that protection being limited to a person’s care costs as opposed to the full extent of their care home fees will inevitably cause confusion and frustration.”

The consultation is open until 30 March, to visit the consultation pages online visit: http://careact2016.dh.gov.uk/