Elderly care cap in England to benefit ‘one in eight’
The cap on care costs in England is due to be introduced in 2016The £72,000 cap on elderly care costs in England, due to be introduced in 2016, will benefit one in eight people, the government has said.
The revelation came as the government set out details about how it will work.
It confirmed there would be a deferred payment scheme under which the local council would pay care fees and claim them back from the estate after death.
Labour said the details would not help elderly and disabled people struggling to get the support they needed now.
Ministers say the cap on costs is a solution to the elderly care crisis, but the level at which the cap is being set is twice what was recommended, meaning the numbers benefiting will be restricted.
