Pensioners Who Rely on the New ‘Care Cap’ to Be Disappointed

Hampshire’s pensioners who assumed the Government’s much-trumpeted £72,000 cap on care was the maximum they would pay could be in for a shock.

The elderly face digging deeper into their hard-earned savings now that full details have emerged of the changes due to be introduced in April, 2016. Accommodation and living costs are not included in the cap.

It’s believed the Government will set the so-called “daily living cost” at £12,000 a year, subject to means testing. This means the maximum pensioners will be forced to fork out is £72,000 plus £12,000 per annum.

Personal care, eg, hairdressing and help with dressing, are excluded from the cap. It is believed only one in eight people in England will benefit from these changes. From 2016, local authorities will have a duty to offer deferred payment to save individuals from selling their homes to meet care costs. But interest will be payable throughout.

People transferring ownership of their property “with the intention of avoiding charges” will still be charged the full rate.

To discuss long-term care planning and how the changes will affect you or your family, please contact the care specialist at Heritage Will Writing on 023 8087 9243.