§ Baroness Jegerasked Her Majesty's Government:
On what basis the reasonable weekly charge payable by the DHSS is fixed for patients in private nursing and residential homes; and what are the highest and the lowest weekly charges at present being paid.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Lord Skelmersdale)Supplementary benefit does not pay residential care or nursing homes charges as such. Individuals in these homes are responsible for their own charges but they can claim supplementary benefit to help meet the charges. There are limits to436WA the levels of supplementary benefit assistance and these limits are based on the different types of care that homes can provide.
The Government review all of the limits each year to ensure that they are set at a reasonable level. The review takes into account information on the movement of costs and charges in homes as well as representations from interested individuals and organisations. Decisions are then made about the level of each limit in the light of all of this information.
The maximum amounts of supplementary benefit which can be paid to help with charges currently range from £130 to £230 a week.