By Cicero Consulting
The key finding of the Dilnot Report – published this morning – is unequivocal in its analysis, “the current adult social care funding system in England is not fit for purpose and needs urgent and lasting reform”.
The Report recommends capping the lifetime contribution to adult social care costs for an individual at £35,000. It also proposes increasing the asset threshold for those in residential care, with no-means-tested help, from £23,250 to £100,000.
The debate on the funding of adult social care is not new. Previous governments have attempted to address the funding of social care and found it either too complex or politically difficult. In February 2010, pre-General Election, the political parties failed to find consensus on a way forward, publicly blaming each over for a lack of progress.
It is against this backdrop, the budget deficit, and fundamental reform of public sector pensions, the NHS and banking sector that the Dilnot report is published.
Eyes will now be focussed on the Government, and HM Treasury in particular, and its acceptance – or not – of today’s proposals. Will the £1.7billion per year requested by Andrew Dilnot to implement his recommendations be delivered?
Dilnot himself recognises taxes may need to be raised to pay for his reforms. This is contentious enough in England, even without the comparison with Scotland, where adult social care remains free.
The question is whether the Government will seek to kick this issue into the long to medium length grass, as has been indicated by No10? Alternatively, will the recommended cap on lifetime contributions and assets thresholds be watered down to such an extent that the opportunity for fundamental reform called for by Dilnot is missed?
The Labour Partyis keen to showcase itswillingness to work toward a cross-party solution to this issue. The Tories were the party seen to shy away in February 2010. Will they be persuaded by their Lib Dem colleagues not to do the same again? The political debate begins now.
Please download the PDF to view the entire report.
|
