Queen’s Speech 2012: Draft Social Care Bill Announced
A draft bill on overhauling care and support for elderly and disabled people in England has been announced in the Queen’s Speech.
The bill will put “people in control of their care and give them greater choice,” ministers say.
The contentious issue of how social care is paid for is still unclear.
This week, charities and the Local Government Association called for radical change to prevent people being left “living in misery and fear”.
Discussions are currently taking place between the political parties on how social care should be reformed. A White Paper was expected before Easter, but is now due to be published later this month or in June.
‘Simplify’ the law
A Department of Health source said the government was determined to push ahead with plans to tackle social care, but this would take time.
The draft bill would aim to simplify the law on social care, which is currently spread across “at least a dozen acts”.
Funding for social care remains the most divisive issue.
In 2011, an independent review recommended a cap of £35,000 on the amount people would have to pay for social care.
Only those with less than £23,250 of assets are offered council-funded home help and care-home places. The review said that threshold should rise to £100,000.
Following those recommendations would cost an extra £1.7bn a year, the report said.
Same Difference 