So what now for Social Care?

As widely publicised, the Care Act 2014 introduced a cap on the amount that individuals would have to pay towards their care. The cap of £72,000 was originally due to come into effect in April 2016 but was deferred until 2020 by the government. This is essentially due to lack of funding; the local authorities simply cannot afford to put more into paying for care.

In the run up to the snap election the Conservatives proposed a new funding floor (as opposed to a cap) which would mean individuals would have to fund their care down to the last £100,000 including the value of their home. Whilst at first glance this may seem attractive (as the current limit is £14,250 before care is fully funded) it should be remembered that in some circumstances an individual’s home is disregarded in calculating financial assets, for example, if a spouse remains living in the property. In addition, the provisions of the Care Act are intended to remove potentially catastrophic care costs by placing a ceiling on the