Wednesday 20 February 2013

Stephen Metcalfe MP welcomes package of social care reforms


Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, has welcomed the Government’s recent announcement of a package of reforms to tackle the cost of social care.

Each year, more than 30,000 people have to sell their homes to pay for the cost of care. The Government have announced a number of reforms to help tackle this problem including a cap on care costs from 2017, and an increase in the threshold for the value of assets someone can hold before qualifying for support. This threshold will rise from £23,250 to £123,000.

Mr Metcalfe commented: “The current system, which only provides state support if your assets are above £23,250, is unfair and sends out completely the wrong message – that if you work hard, save for your future and want to have something to pass on to your loved ones, your savings can disappear in a puff of smoke if you end up needing long term care. As one in three of us will get dementia and one in ten end up with more than £100,000 of care costs, this is a problem we cannot ignore.”

“These new measures will provide financial protection for those in South Basildon and East Thurrock with modest wealth, while ensuring that the poorest continue to have all or the majority of their costs paid.”

Stephen Metcalfe added: “These proposals demonstrate the Government’s determination to help people in South Basildon and East Thurrock who have worked hard, saved and done the right thing. We can be proud that we will perhaps be the first country which, in the face of an ageing population, is building a system where people can plan and prepare for their care costs as much as they plan and prepare for their pensions.”