Scope responds to Government social care plans

The Government is expected to announce plans for a "fully-funded solution" to the problem of elderly people in England who cannot afford social care.

The plans are reported to include a £75,000 cap on the costs people pay for care and a rise in the threshold for means-tested support from £23,250 to £123,000.

In response Richard Hawkes, Chief Executive of the disability charity Scope, said:

“The cap on costs and a higher threshold for means-testing are part of the social care solution.

“But today’s plans do not address the crisis in social care support for working age disabled people.

“There is a £1.2 billion funding black hole and we are still waiting to hear how the Government is going to tackle it.

“Almost 40% of disabled people tell us their local support doesn’t meet basic needs such as eating properly, washing, dressing and leaving their homes.

“The Government plans to introduce a national level of eligibility. This is a move that will finally end the postcode lottery of care.

“But we are extremely concerned that the Government will set the level too high  - meaning thousands of disabled people will be denied basic support in their everyday lives.

“Unless the Government sets eligibility in the right place and addresses the funding black hole, thousands of disabled people will be condemned to a life without basic dignity."