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General election: Theresa May changes social care plans General election: Theresa May changes social care plans
(about 1 hour later)
Theresa May has said proposed changes to social care funding in England will now include an "absolute limit" on the money people will have to pay.Theresa May has said proposed changes to social care funding in England will now include an "absolute limit" on the money people will have to pay.
The Conservatives ruled out a cap on total costs in last week's manifesto, instead saying no-one would see their assets fall below £100,000. The prime minister denied claims of a U-turn, saying she was responding to "shameful" claims that people would be forced to sell their family home.
The PM defended the "sensible" plan, saying the system risked collapsing. Last week's Tory manifesto did not mention a cap but the PM said her plans still offered a long-term solution.
But she said she wanted to address "shameful" fears that people would be forced to sell their family home. But Labour and the Lib Dems said the policy was "in meltdown".
She told activists in Wales that the Conservatives were "determined to fix the system" and put a sustainable long-term solution in place which deals with the strains on the social care system from an ageing society. Plans to make people receiving care at home liable for the full costs if they are worth at least £100,000 have proved controversial since they were announced on Thursday.
She insisted that no-one would have to sell their home to pay for care while they were alive and people would still have "something to pass on to" their family after their death. The policy has been criticised by charities and pensioner groups who fear people will no longer be able to pass their homes down to their children if the value of their property is taken into account when calculating care costs.
Mrs May told activists in Wales that the Conservatives were determined to deal with the strains on social care - which unlike the NHS is not free at the point of use - from an ageing society and without fresh funding, the system was at risk of collapse.
She insisted that no-one would have to sell their home while they were alive to pay for care and people would still have "something to pass on to" their family after their death.
"We will make sure there's an absolute limit on what people need to pay. And you will never have to go below £100,000 of your savings.""We will make sure there's an absolute limit on what people need to pay. And you will never have to go below £100,000 of your savings."
The prime minister denied that it was a U-turn, insisting that "nothing had changed" and "the basic principles" set out in the manifesto remained in place. The prime minister insisted that "nothing had changed" and "the basic principles" set out in the manifesto remained in place.
Asked what level the cap would be set at, she said that would be a matter for the consultation. And she hit out at what she said was "fake" portrayals of the policy by Labour and other critics - who have labelled the move a "dementia tax". Asked what level the cap would be set at, she said that would be a matter for the consultation, if the Tories returned to power. And she hit out at what she said was "fake" portrayals of the policy by Labour and other critics - who have labelled the move a "dementia tax".
AnalysisAnalysis
By Health Correspondent Nick TriggleBy Health Correspondent Nick Triggle
This represents a complete U-turn. The cap - a 2015 election promise - was ditched last week with the Tories briefing it would be too expensive because of the ageing population. The cap - a 2015 election promise - was ditched last week with the Tories briefing it would be too expensive because of the ageing population.
Instead they wanted to set a "floor" in England - hence guaranteeing everyone in England would be able to keep £100,000.Instead they wanted to set a "floor" in England - hence guaranteeing everyone in England would be able to keep £100,000.
But after a weekend of damaging headlines, there has clearly been a re-think. Merging together two policies may prove difficult however.But after a weekend of damaging headlines, there has clearly been a re-think. Merging together two policies may prove difficult however.
What they proposed in the manifesto in regards to including the value of a person's home was not in the original proposals for a cap. Are the two things compatible?What they proposed in the manifesto in regards to including the value of a person's home was not in the original proposals for a cap. Are the two things compatible?
What about the level of the cap - set at £72,000 last time? And where will the money come from? The cost was estimated at £6bn over five years. These, the Tories say, are all questions for another day.What about the level of the cap - set at £72,000 last time? And where will the money come from? The cost was estimated at £6bn over five years. These, the Tories say, are all questions for another day.
The BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith, who was earlier told by Tory sources that there would be no "rowing back", said the prime minister was now "completely refashioning the policy" and had effectively "ripped" up a four-day-old manifesto commitment.The BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith, who was earlier told by Tory sources that there would be no "rowing back", said the prime minister was now "completely refashioning the policy" and had effectively "ripped" up a four-day-old manifesto commitment.
Chancellor Philip Hammond said the "key tenets" of the policy remained in tact but his predecessor George Osborne, who is now editor of the Evening Standard, tweeted that the move was a U-turn, joking that "at least this manifesto wasn't carved onto a stone".
Currently anyone with savings and other assets worth more than £23,250 is expected to pay the full cost of their residential care and the value of their home can be taken into account. But this does not apply to those receiving care in their own home.
Under the Conservative plans, this would change and property values could, in future, be factored in. The money would not be taken from an estate until after an individual's death and £100,000 from that estate would be protected.
A report by the economist Andrew Dilnot in 2011 recommended a cap on lifetime total care costs of £35,000, after which people would be eligible for state support. The Conservatives went into the 2015 election pledging a £72,000 level although its introduction was subsequently deferred until 2020.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has accused the Conservatives of "forcing those who need social care to pay for it with their homes", said the policy had been thrown into "chaos and confusion".
Are you or your relatives affected by social care? What difference would the proposed cap make to you? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukAre you or your relatives affected by social care? What difference would the proposed cap make to you? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
Former Chancellor George Osborne, now editor of the Evening Standard, tweeted that the move was a U-turn.
Currently, people living in residential care can ask their local authority to pay their bill and recover the money from the sale of their family home after they die.
The Conservatives' plan would extend this right to those receiving care in their own homes, who would have to pay until they were down to their last £100,000.
Under the Conservative plans nobody with assets of less than £100,000 would have to pay for social care. Currently anyone with assets of over £23,250 is expected to pay the full cost of their residential care and the value of their home can be taken into account.
But that is not the case if you receive care in your own home. Under the Tory plans the value of your home may in future be factored in, although the money would not be taken from your estate until after your death.
This means some people fear they will not be able to pass their homes down to their children.
An independent report in 2013 called for a cap on total care costs of £72,000 - a proposal originally backed by the Tories before the 2015 election but subsequently deferred until 2020.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had accused the Conservatives of "forcing those who need social care to pay for it with their homes", labelling the policy a "dementia tax".
The Lib Dems, meanwhile, had said nine out of 10 homes would be eligible to be sold under the new regime, citing Land Registry house sale figures.The Lib Dems, meanwhile, had said nine out of 10 homes would be eligible to be sold under the new regime, citing Land Registry house sale figures.
Former leader Nick Clegg said Theresa May had suffered a "manifesto meltdown" and the changes raised questions about her leadership. He told the BBC that she had still not provided certainty to families about how much they would have to pay for domiciliary care.Former leader Nick Clegg said Theresa May had suffered a "manifesto meltdown" and the changes raised questions about her leadership. He told the BBC that she had still not provided certainty to families about how much they would have to pay for domiciliary care.
The Conservatives had attempted to fight back online, with a paid-for ad on Google which pop up when users of the search engine type in the words "dementia tax". The SNP said the situation in Scotland, where personal and nursing care is free for those who are eligible, was "very different" and predicated upon "respecting the dignity of older people who contribute so much throughout their working lives.
Before the rethink was announced, the Conservatives had attempted to fight back online, with a paid-for ad on Google which pop up when users of the search engine type in the words "dementia tax".
The ad reads "The so-called 'dementia tax' - Get the real facts - conservatives.com, together with a link to an explainer about the party's social care policies on its website.The ad reads "The so-called 'dementia tax' - Get the real facts - conservatives.com, together with a link to an explainer about the party's social care policies on its website.
Are you or your relatives affected by social care? What difference would the proposed cap make to you? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukAre you or your relatives affected by social care? What difference would the proposed cap make to you? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
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