With the general election approaching new policies and changes to existing policies are coming to light as every party fights to be elected.
The Conservative Party made headlines this week with their changes to social care. National press and other parties have dubbed May’s policy as “dementia tax”
Ex Lib Dem pensions minister Sir Steve Webb has warned that Conservative plans to change social care funding in England may possibly be overturned by councils.
Proposed plans suggest that the party want to include the value of someone’s home when deciding how much they must pay towards care at home. This also includes the option of letting them pay after they die. Conservatives state that the changes will ensure fairness across the generations.
Sir Steve Webb said “there is already a “lottery” in the way councils use existing deferred payment schemes.”
Under the current policy set in place, people living in residential care can ask their local authority to pay their bill and recover the money from the sale of their family home after they die.
The proposed plan by the Conservatives extends this policy to people receiving care in their own homes, who would pay until their last £100,000.
So, how would the Conservative social care plans work?
If your assets amount to less than £100,000 under Tory policy you would not pay for social care. Under the current policy anyone with assets over £23,250 is expected to pay the full amount of their residential care which can include the value of their home being taken into account.
Which is why some people fear they may not be able to pass their homes down to family members.
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