Finding an answer to the huge social care problem

WE are living longer. Almost one in five of the population is now over 65. Funding our social care in old age and for those with disabilities is one of the most urgent problems that faces society today. In 2019/20, 38p in every pound paid in tax will go towards adult social care. In 2010/11 the figure was just 28p. A staggering increase.

Everyone understands that this is a huge problem and that it can no longer be ignored.

Today we publish details of a new poll by retirement specialist Aegon which reveals that two-thirds of British adults would be willing to pay more to fund social care.

But should it be through an increase in income tax, through a wealth-related tax for those with larger properties or through personalised insurance funds? The latter is one of the suggestions of the TaxPayers’ Alliance.

Nobody wants to pay any taxes at all though we all accept that we have to. It is one of the contracts that citizens must enter into with the society in which they live. We rightly despise those individuals and companies who avoid their responsibilities even if they do not technically break the law.

It could be that the answer will be – as Aegon suggests – that “the Government will need to design a package of different measures to fill the social care funding gap”.

The Government has delayed the publication of its green paper on social care but it cannot go on prevaricating much longer.