Survey reveals councils increasing charges, tightening eligibility criteria

A number of councils are already increasing charging for home care and tightening the eligibility criteria for access to services ahead of the comprehensive spending review, a charity has warned.

Counsel and Care said its survey of 56 authorities showed that care budgets are under severe financial pressure. More than half of the respondents said they would be carrying out budget cuts in social care or reducing the services available.

Six of the councils meanwhile revealed they were considering increases to home care charges, while another four were consulting on raising charges.

Counsel and Care said two local authorities were consulting on removing or increasing the weekly maximum charging that they had previously set for home care per week.

Chief executive Stephen Burke said the charity was extremely concerned about the knock-on effects such increases in charges will have on the quality of life for older people and their carers.

He warned: “If these short-sighted plans are put into action, the impact will be felt first by the most vulnerable, who will have to go without vital care and support and then on acute health services as people are forced to reach crisis point before they get help.”

Burke insisted that local authorities had other choices. “We are aware of councils extending their eligibility criteria to support older people with low and moderate needs,” he claimed.

Counsel and Care’s chief executive added: “We acknowledge the pressures that local authorities are under, but call on councils to protect vital frontline services for older people and their carers. This worsening postcode lottery highlights the need for urgent reform to create a fair, simple and sustainable care system for older people and their families and carers.”