This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/8593118.stm
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Social care 'levy for all' plan | Social care 'levy for all' plan |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A compulsory levy would be introduced to create a universal system of social care for adults in England, under plans to be unveiled by ministers. | A compulsory levy would be introduced to create a universal system of social care for adults in England, under plans to be unveiled by ministers. |
| They will call for a new commission to look at when and how the fee should be applied, and how much it should be. | They will call for a new commission to look at when and how the fee should be applied, and how much it should be. |
| It is widely agreed the current means-tested system needs reform because of the ageing population. | It is widely agreed the current means-tested system needs reform because of the ageing population. |
| A compulsory charge is opposed by the Conservatives, who called one proposal for a levy on estates a death tax. | A compulsory charge is opposed by the Conservatives, who called one proposal for a levy on estates a death tax. |
| The subject is now likely to become a key issue during the election campaign. | The subject is now likely to become a key issue during the election campaign. |
| Demands for care have been rising as people live longer, and costs have been ballooning. | Demands for care have been rising as people live longer, and costs have been ballooning. |
| WHERE THE PARTIES STAND Labour - Put forward three proposals last summer and after public consultation is expected to back a compulsory levyTories - Proposed an £8,000 voluntary insurance model to cover residential care costs. Now drawing up plans for a voluntary scheme to cover domestic care, such as help washing, eating and dressing in the homeLib Dems - Initially supportive of free personal care - like Scotland has introduced - but now want a "partnership" whereby state pays some and individual tops this up. Open to compulsory levy Q&A: Social care | WHERE THE PARTIES STAND Labour - Put forward three proposals last summer and after public consultation is expected to back a compulsory levyTories - Proposed an £8,000 voluntary insurance model to cover residential care costs. Now drawing up plans for a voluntary scheme to cover domestic care, such as help washing, eating and dressing in the homeLib Dems - Initially supportive of free personal care - like Scotland has introduced - but now want a "partnership" whereby state pays some and individual tops this up. Open to compulsory levy Q&A: Social care |
| Some councils have already started to limit access to support to those with the most severe needs. | Some councils have already started to limit access to support to those with the most severe needs. |
| The result is that many elderly people living at home have been left to fend for themselves or rely on the help of family and friends for assistance with washing, eating and dressing. | The result is that many elderly people living at home have been left to fend for themselves or rely on the help of family and friends for assistance with washing, eating and dressing. |
| Thousands of people have also been forced to sell family homes to pay for residential care. | Thousands of people have also been forced to sell family homes to pay for residential care. |
| The government put forward three funding options for a new system last summer. | The government put forward three funding options for a new system last summer. |
| The options all involved the state providing a basic level of funding, which could be topped up by personal contributions, an insurance scheme or a compulsory fee. | The options all involved the state providing a basic level of funding, which could be topped up by personal contributions, an insurance scheme or a compulsory fee. |
| The government consulted widely on the proposals, with many charities and social care chiefs backing a compulsory charge as the best way to raise the money needed to sustain the system. | The government consulted widely on the proposals, with many charities and social care chiefs backing a compulsory charge as the best way to raise the money needed to sustain the system. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
| But cross-party talks in recent months have failed to reach a consensus. | But cross-party talks in recent months have failed to reach a consensus. |
| The Conservatives are adamant people should not be compelled to pay, and instead back a voluntary insurance scheme. | The Conservatives are adamant people should not be compelled to pay, and instead back a voluntary insurance scheme. |
| One of the suggestions - a compulsory charge, perhaps as much as £20,000, which could be taken from a person's estate after death - was dubbed a "death tax" by the Tories. | One of the suggestions - a compulsory charge, perhaps as much as £20,000, which could be taken from a person's estate after death - was dubbed a "death tax" by the Tories. |
| Alistair Darling appeared to reject the "death tax" during the chancellors debate on Channel 4 on Monday night. | Alistair Darling appeared to reject the "death tax" during the chancellors debate on Channel 4 on Monday night. |
| These reforms will pave the way towards the introduction of a comprehensive national care service available to all - whoever you are, wherever you live, whatever your circumstances Prime Minister Gordon Brown | These reforms will pave the way towards the introduction of a comprehensive national care service available to all - whoever you are, wherever you live, whatever your circumstances Prime Minister Gordon Brown |
| However, Health Secretary Andy Burnham will say in Parliament on Tuesday that he still favours a compulsory levy of some sort as he unveils a white paper on the issue. | However, Health Secretary Andy Burnham will say in Parliament on Tuesday that he still favours a compulsory levy of some sort as he unveils a white paper on the issue. |
| He will suggest an independent group of experts be appointed to look at exactly how such a fee could be applied. | He will suggest an independent group of experts be appointed to look at exactly how such a fee could be applied. |
| He hailed the policy as "a momentous decision" that would provide a universal system of care for the first time. | He hailed the policy as "a momentous decision" that would provide a universal system of care for the first time. |
| "It will give people peace of mind in later life and help them protect everything they have worked for. | "It will give people peace of mind in later life and help them protect everything they have worked for. |
| "We have the cruellest system of all at the moment." | "We have the cruellest system of all at the moment." |
| Pensioner Audrey Burgin: "People say I could go on a world cruise for the money I spend on care" | Pensioner Audrey Burgin: "People say I could go on a world cruise for the money I spend on care" |
| As an interim measure, the government has already said it would provide free care to people in their own homes with the most severe needs. | As an interim measure, the government has already said it would provide free care to people in their own homes with the most severe needs. |
| People who have been in care homes for more than two years will get their care for free. | People who have been in care homes for more than two years will get their care for free. |
| This will happen from 2014, Mr Burnham is set to say later. | This will happen from 2014, Mr Burnham is set to say later. |
| 'Must sort this out' | 'Must sort this out' |
| The government expects that a new system would take more than the lifetime of the next parliament - perhaps 2016 - to be introduced fully. | The government expects that a new system would take more than the lifetime of the next parliament - perhaps 2016 - to be introduced fully. |
| Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley accused ministers of still wanting a death tax but just delaying the decision for a few years. | Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley accused ministers of still wanting a death tax but just delaying the decision for a few years. |
| He said charging everyone for social care was "unfair on the people who meet their caring responsibilities" - families caring for elderly relatives at home. | He said charging everyone for social care was "unfair on the people who meet their caring responsibilities" - families caring for elderly relatives at home. |
| Councillor David Rogers, of the Local Government Association, said: "We need a new system and that will inevitably be a combination of tax revenue and individual contributions in some form. | Councillor David Rogers, of the Local Government Association, said: "We need a new system and that will inevitably be a combination of tax revenue and individual contributions in some form. |
| "The next government must sort this out." | "The next government must sort this out." |