Source: Local Government Association (LGA)
Dear Member,
The Local Government Association (LGA) has launched a consultation to kick-start a debate on how adult social care should be paid for.
Publication of its green paper, on Tuesday 31 July, was in response to the government’s decision to delay its long-awaited document on the issue until the autumn. Health and social care secretary Matt Hancock announced last week that the government’s green paper would now cover all adults and not just older people.
We would like to send a joint Hertfordshire response to the LGA regarding this. If you would like to give us your views, please see the full paper here, and respond to the three sections of the consultation by clicking below:
Don’t worry if you can’t complete all three sections in one go, you can always come back to each part retrospectively.
We would like to send a joint Hertfordshire response to the LGA regarding this. If you would like to give us your views, please see the full paper here, the information below, and respond by clicking here.
The LGA estimates that adult social care services face a £3.5bn funding gap by 2025, just to maintain existing standards of care, while figures show that councils in England receive 1.8 million new requests for adult social care a year – the equivalent of nearly 5,000 a day.
The eight-week consultation sets out options, which include:
Increasing income tax for taxpayers of all ages – a 1p rise on the basic rate could raise £4.4bn in 2024/25
Increasing national insurance – a 1p rise could raise £10.4bn in 2024/25
A social care premium – charging the over-40s and working pensioners an earmarked contribution. If it was assumed everyone over 40 was able to pay the same amount, raising £1bn would mean a cost of £33.40 for each person aged 40+ in 2024/25
Means testing universal benefits, such as winter fuel allowance and free television licences, could raise £1.9bn in 2024/25
Allowing local authorities to increase council tax – a 1 per cent rise would generate £285m in 2024/25
The consultation is seeking the views of people and organisations from across society on how best to pay for care and support for adults of all ages and their unpaid carers. The LGA will respond to the findings in the autumn to inform and influence the government’s green paper and spending plans.
Cllr Izzi Seccombe, the LGA’s community wellbeing board chair, said: ‘We cannot duck this issue as a society any longer. Our green paper is the start of a nationwide public debate about the future of care for all adults, and how best to support their wellbeing, and we encourage as many people and organisations to have their say on how we pay for it and the responsibilities of citizens, families and communities.
‘Adult social care and support matters. We must fund it for the long-term so that people of all ages can be supported to live the life they want to live. Building a better society means ensuring that everyone receives the care they need to lead a good life: well, independent and at home for as long as possible. This process must start now.’
The LGA green paper is available here
Source: Laing Buisson