PEOPLE in Wales must be entitled to the same lifetime cap on care costs as those proposed in England, to lift the “curse” of big personal payouts in old age, says the head of a Gwent charity.

And David Murray, head of Age Concern Gwent, believes the Welsh government cannot go it alone on a future system for managing social care costs.

The UK Government-commissioned Dilnot Report – the result of a Commission on Funding of Care and Support – into how the system of funding social care in England can be changed, proposes a £35,000 lifetime cap on costs.

It also proposes a more than four-fold rise in the means-tested asset threshold below which people would not have to contribute to the costs of council-funded home help, and care home places.

In Wales, that threshold is currently £22,500 – £750 less than in England, where under the Dilnot proposals it would rise to £100,000.

How to address the rising, and already multi-billion pound cost of social care across the UK, is a major challenge for the UK and devolved governments.

Mr Murray said a key aspect of the Dilnot Report is the acknowledgement that the State must play a greater part in paying for such care.

“By capping individual input into the system it injects a level of consistency so people know what they are Planning for,” he said.

“There will be big implications for Wales, political pressure to follow suit, and also business pressure.”

Planning for potential care costs through insurance will be a way forward for the majority if the Dilnot recommendations are adopted. But Mr Murray said: “There’s not enough critical mass in Wales, in terms of population, to go it alone with a Dragonised version of insurance.

Companies will not buy into it. But overall, the government must act on Dilnot.” Initial reaction suggests the Welsh government will continue on its own path toward social care reform.

A spokesman said it has its own programme for renewal, and intends to bring forward a social services bill that “could provide an opportunity to legislate on any relevant elements arising from the Dilnot report, if we so chose.Wehave already taken action in Wales to cap charging – we have introduced a weekly maximum charge of £50 for non-residential care,” he said.

“We are pleased to see the Dilnot Commission is following a similarly pragmatic and straightforward approach in its key recommendations around capping an individual’s lifetime contribution towards care costs.”

Charity welcomes report

THE Dilnot Report is welcomed by the charity Age Cymru as “a clear blueprint”

for long-term, sustainable social care reform.

The charity’s head of policy, Graeme Francis, said a £35,000 cap would help “alleviate the fear and uncertainty” experienced by many people in the current system.

Wales’ older people’s commissioner, Ruth Marks, said: “Social care funding should be fair, and clear, so people are able to plan for later life.”

“Older people tell me they do not want to lose a lifetime of assets simply because they need care and support. It is right that the funding mechanism supports those who most need it, but that people who have saved do not lose out.”

THE Dilnot Report’s key recommendations:

  • Individuals’ lifetime contributions towards their care costs, currently unlimited, should be capped. After that cap is reached, individuals would be eligible for full state support. The report recommends a £35,000 cap as the most appropriate and fair.
  • The means-tested threshold, above which people are liable for their full care costs, should increase to £100,000.
  • National eligibility criteria and standard assessments should be introduced.
  • People should contribute a standard amount to cover general living costs in residential care.
  • To encourage people to plan ahead for later life, the government should invest in an awareness campaign.