Ealing Council Proposing New Social Care Charges
Around 1,000 borough residents may be hit by increased costs
Ealing Council is proposing to make changes to the way that they charge for adults’ social care which may lead to around 1,000 borough residents seeing increased costs.
The Council needs cover a shortfall in funding for care and support. They say they currently spend £230,000 a day and in order to balance the adult social care budget this needs to be reduced to £187,000 a day.
Adults’ services spends nearly £22 million a year on home care services. The average cost of a home care package ranges between £130 a week to £180 per week, but can be much higher. The cost of care and demand for this service is continuing to rise.
The Council have identified 700 people in the borough who will be impacted by the inclusion of the Higher/Enhanced Rate Disability Allowance within the financial assessment. Around 260 people in the borough meet the threshold for being charged an administrative fee for their care. They are people who have over £23,250 in savings, live in the community and not a care home and have asked the Council to arrange care on their behalf.
The consultation is now open online and will close on Friday, 19 October. The final proposals will be considered by cabinet on Tuesday, 15 January 2019.
Councillor Binda Rai, cabinet member for health and adults' services said, “There is a national social care crisis affecting the whole country and we need a funding solution from central government as soon as possible. We also need the resources to effectively tackle the challenges and demands that come from a growing and ageing population for our services, but unfortunately central government believe that this needs to be sorted and funded at a local level.
“It is important that we look after our vulnerable residents and provide them with adequate care and we take this responsibility seriously, but this is also the most costly aspect of running the council. Our consultation will help us to understand the views of residents on changing the charging policy for those who receive the higher benefit rates. I would encourage people to fill in the questionnaire and for residents to contact the team if they have any questions about their care.”
A letter with a paper version of the survey will be sent out to those residents that may be affected and there is an online version of the survey.
If you would like a visit by the Community Benefits Team to your community group to discuss the consultation please email mycontribution@ealing.gov.uk
The Community Benefits Team can provide telephone based information on the consultation and can be reached on: 020 8825 8555 between 10.00 a.m. and 12.00 Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
August 16, 2018