Government publishes progress report on social care funding reform
The government has published a progress report on social care funding reform - 'Caring for our future: progress report on funding reform'.
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The report sets out that the government agrees the principles of the Dilnot Commission’s model - financial protection through capped costs and an extended means test - would be the right basis for any new funding model.
It is the government’s intention to base a new funding model on the principles if a way to pay for it can be found. However, whilst it is the right thing to do, given the size of the structural deficit and the economic situation the country faces, the government is unable to commit to introducing a new system at this stage. Funding reform needs to be considered alongside other priorities and the right place to do this is at the next Spending Review. Decisions will be taken then.
The government is also taking definitive steps to take forward a number of important recommendations made by the Commission. The progress report commits to introducing a Universal Deferred Payments scheme to ensure no-one will be forced to sell their home to pay for care in their lifetime.
The Government will continue to work with stakeholders to consider in more detail variants under the principles of the Dilnot Commission’s model, before coming to a final view in the next Spending Review.