§ Mr. SandersTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to review the capital threshold for long-term care cost contributions; and if he will make a statement. [55706]
§ Mr. BoatengI have been asked to reply.
A Royal Commission has been established to carry out a fundamental review of the arrangements for providing and financing long-term care. We have no plans to reconsider the thresholds in advance of the report by the Royal Commission, which is expected at the end of the year. Under the current local authority charging rules no account is taken of capital below £10,000. For capital of between £10,000 and £16,000, an income of £1 a week is assumed for each complete £250, or part of £250, held. The capital thresholds which are applied by local authority social services departments in determining an individual's ability to contribute to long-term residential care currently match the thresholds which apply to Income Support for people in residential care. The higher threshold—above which residents qualify for neither income support nor assistance with their fees from the local authority—is currently £16,000.