Islington Council review of social care charges asks: Should better-off elderly pay more?

Published: 25th February, 2011
by PETER GRUNER

THE Town Hall faces a huge row over controversial plans announced this week to “means-test” old people needing social care. 

The means-test option is included in a consultation exercise, entitled “Should better off people pay more for social care?”, which has been launched.

If the changes are implemented, service users will be given a financial assessment by the council to determine any new contribution they will make towards the cost of their care. 

Means-testing in­volves a full financial assessment (evidence of income and savings) as a basis of judging whether someone has the means to contribute. 

Homecare – help with washing and dressing, cleaning and shopping – is already means-tested.  

Labour adult social care chief Councillor Janet Burgess said: “The council has to manage £41million of funding cuts in 2011-12, im­posed by central government. More than ever we need to target our funds at those people most in need of our help. 

“Looking at the homecare, day centre and transport services we provide, we think it’s only fair that those who can afford it make a bigger contribution to these costs.

“The proposed changes to the charging policy will help the council concentrate scarce resources on maintaining valuable services to Islington’s most vulnerable residents.” 

Lib Dem social service spokeswoman Councillor Ursula Woolley said that the council had complete freedom as to where it raises its charges. “But the elderly, even if they are the so-called better-off, are not the people who should be forced to pay higher charges,” she added. “How are they going to assess people? What criteria will they use? Even people who own their own house are often cash poor.”

Former Labour councillor George Durack, chairman of Islington Pensioners Forum, thought it sad that the council wanted to means-test the elderly. 

“They should be targeting the super-rich like the bankers and not ordinary pensioners who might have saved a few bob,” he said. 

“Whatever happened to universal care for old people?”

Dave Barnes, a former Labour councillor before joining the Lib Dems and now spokesman for Islington Tax Payers Alliance, said well-off old people were already paying more in taxes. 

“I’d like to see means-testing for the highly paid councillors and their officers,” he added. “They should all take a drop in salary before they start asking old people to pay more.

“I was a councillor for 20 years from 1986. We got allowances but it was mainly a part-time job. Neither councillors nor officers got the kind of salaries they get today.”

Feedback from the consultation, which runs until April 11, will be used to help the council develop the “fairest policy” in difficult circumstances.

The proposals do not affect people in residential care services, for whom there will be no change.

The council will be asking older and vulnerable residents, their carers and representative organisations for their views.

The council maintains it already has some of the lowest charges, compared with other London councils. 

To complete a questionnaire, visit the council website at www.islington.gov.uk/consultation.

Meetings for service users and carers will discuss the consultation. 

To book a place at one of them, contact 020 7527 3898 or 020 7527 3990.