Responding to the reports in the weekend’s press about an imminent announcement on social care funding.

Simon Gillespie, Chair of the Care and Support Alliance said:

“Having campaigned strongly for the Dilnot model, the Care & Support Alliance anticipates tomorrow’s announcement as an important step forward in starting to protect families facing huge bills for care and support services.  Although if reports are correct and the cap has been set at £75,000  and thus far higher than the original recommendation of £35,000 from Andrew Dilnot – it establishes a significant principle that families should have some protection from losing almost everything to care costs.

“But the high costs of care, plus the cost of board and lodging will still cause real fear and anxiety for older and disabled people and their families so we urge the Government to urgently set out a timetable for making care more affordable.

“Families struggling now with the costs of long-term care should also not have to wait four years for change. Some of these reforms can be delivered now and we urge the Government to take the earliest opportunity to at least introduce the rise in the means-test.

“However, this is only part of the answer for how the care crisis is tackled.   A critical part of the Dilnot proposals was delivering sufficient funding to ensure enough care was available to meet growing demand. The funding gap for care is growing – this means that older and disabled people and their families are going without vital support.  To end the crisis in care Government must also urgently deliver a sustainable funding solution that makes sure care and support are available to all who need it.”