Author Archives: Maureen

The cost of social care in old age

February 9, 2013   Carers, Older care, ukcuts

9 February 2013 Last updated at 19:09

Social care cap ‘to be set at £75,000’

Hands of an elderly person The cap would mean no one in England will have to pay more than £75,000 for their care in old age

Elderly people in England will not have to pay more than £75,000 for long-term social care after 2017, the health secretary is expected to say on Monday.

The cost of any care above that amount would be paid for by the state.

The figure is much higher than that recommended by the Dilnot report, which said any cap should be set at £35,000.

The BBC also understands the threshold for means-tested support, for those unable to pay their contribution, will rise to about £110,000.

Reform of social care has been the objective of successive governments but only limited changes have taken place and cross-party talks broke down.

Full details of the agreement are set to be revealed in Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt’s statement to the Commons.

The £75,000 cap is thought to only cover the cost of care, bought at local authority prices.

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A card to show someone cares

February 6, 2013   Carers, Scotland, young carers

Wednesday 6 February 2013

It’s a grown-up job for some of our youngest people.

Published on Wednesday 6 February 2013 08:00

 

Being a young carer to a parent or relative is a role that is not chosen but is one that is accepted and valued by those who many of us would still class as children.

In their position as carer, their job is something that many more fortunate youngsters could not even comprehend, little alone do.

That’s why a new scheme was launched this week to make sure young carers enjoy more of the rights they deserve to continue with their vital role as well as live one of the most exciting and promising stages of their lives.

It all started a few years ago.

During the Young Carers Festival in 2010, carers were asked about the problems they faced in their role and what could be done about them.

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Benefits cut ‘will push vulnerable people over edge’

February 5, 2013   Carers, ukcuts

Benefits cut ‘will push vulnerable people over edge’

Written byChris Havergal

Published: 05/02/2013 08:29

Hard-up villagers face losing hundreds of pounds in their benefit payments from April.

Claimants in South Cambridgeshire could lose up to 8.5 per cent of their council tax support when the district council takes on responsibility for the handout. At worst, this could be £5 a week – or more than £200 annually.

The cut was caused by the Government providing £1 million less for the scheme, but Liberal Democrats argued the Conservative-run council should have absorbed the reduction, rather than passing it on to residents.

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