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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Care costs cap 'delayed until 2020' | Care costs cap 'delayed until 2020' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The government's flagship policy to cap care costs in England will be delayed until 2020, the government says. | The government's flagship policy to cap care costs in England will be delayed until 2020, the government says. |
| Costs were to be limited to £72,000 for the over 65s and younger adults with disabilities from April 2016. | Costs were to be limited to £72,000 for the over 65s and younger adults with disabilities from April 2016. |
| The Department of Health said it was still "firmly committed" to the cap, but questions are now being raised whether the policy needs re-thinking. | |
| The move came after councils wrote to ministers asking for a delay because of the "enormous pressures" they faced. | The move came after councils wrote to ministers asking for a delay because of the "enormous pressures" they faced. |
| For years councils have been warning the care system - which covers residential care and help at home with tasks such as washing and dressing - has been under-funded. | For years councils have been warning the care system - which covers residential care and help at home with tasks such as washing and dressing - has been under-funded. |
| Concerns had also been expressed that the drive for a national living wage would push up costs. | |
| BBC Cost of Care project | BBC Cost of Care project |
| The BBC has launched an online guide to the care system for the over-65s. The "care calculator" covers residential care and the support provided in people's own homes, for tasks such as washing and dressing. | The BBC has launched an online guide to the care system for the over-65s. The "care calculator" covers residential care and the support provided in people's own homes, for tasks such as washing and dressing. |
| Users can submit their postcode and find out how much each service costs where they live in the UK. | Users can submit their postcode and find out how much each service costs where they live in the UK. |
| There is also a dedicated BBC Cost of Care website, with news stories, analysis and video. | There is also a dedicated BBC Cost of Care website, with news stories, analysis and video. |
| The letter from the Local Government Association on 1 July said while councils backed the introduction of the cap, it was not possible to cope with the extra demands the changes would bring at the moment. | |
| It said the current system was "no longer sustainable" and pressing ahead would be "deeply damaging". | It said the current system was "no longer sustainable" and pressing ahead would be "deeply damaging". |
| It had been predicted the changes would add £6bn to public sector spending over the course of five years. | It had been predicted the changes would add £6bn to public sector spending over the course of five years. |
| The move was part of a raft of changes being introduced under 2014 Care Act and included in the Conservative Party's manifesto. | The move was part of a raft of changes being introduced under 2014 Care Act and included in the Conservative Party's manifesto. |
| Catastrophic costs | |
| As well as capping costs, the changes would have provided a more generous system of state help. | As well as capping costs, the changes would have provided a more generous system of state help. |
| Currently those with assets of above £23,250 do not get any help from councils towards their costs. | Currently those with assets of above £23,250 do not get any help from councils towards their costs. |
| That was to have risen to £118,000 under the changes. | That was to have risen to £118,000 under the changes. |
| Ministers had claimed the policy would stop people racking up "catastrophic" care costs in old age - one in 10 people who enter the care system end up forking out over £100,000. | Ministers had claimed the policy would stop people racking up "catastrophic" care costs in old age - one in 10 people who enter the care system end up forking out over £100,000. |
| In a written ministerial statement, the government said it was "firmly committed" to the plans, but it was clear following the letter from the LGA that the government needed to "think carefully". | |
| "This is not a decision that has been taken lightly. Further announcements will follow in due course." | |
| Professor Martin Green, chief Executive of Care England, which represents care providers, said it was now time to have a re-think so a "sustainable" solution could be found "once and for all". | |
| "If the government refuses to address the issue of funding, we will have a care system in crisis and the NHS unable to cope with the pressure," he added. |