Backing for over-40s tax to fund social care
A proposed over-40s tax to help fund adult social care has gained cross-party support at Leicestershire County Council.
The idea is one of several put forward in a national Local Government Association (LGA) green paper called The Lives We Want To Lead.
The paper suggests social care should be free at point of use and paid for out of a tax increase.
The “social care premium” could raise £1 billion if over-40s each contributed £33.40 per year.
Details describing the option suggest that every- one would pay the same amount, except those on lower incomes, and people could choose to pay it weekly, monthly or all in one go.
The proposal, and others, were discussed at an adults and communities scrutiny meeting at County Hall.
Tory councillor Rich- ard Blunt, cabinet member for adult social care, said: “I quite like the idea of taxing people aged 40 onwards on an adult social care precept on their income tax because actually that’s when you start to think you might need it, and anyone below 40 is trying to get lots of other things going in their lives.
“We need to present as much information as we can to the Secretary of Sate and see what comes back.”
Councillor Dr Terri Eynon, leader of the Labour group, said: “This truly has cross-party support.
“There’s a lot of simplicity in social care being free at the point of use, and people being taxed makes a lot of sense to me.”
She said: “People are struggling with social care
G. cuts. Carers are under strain. The LGA proposals are costed, sensible and supported by all local government parties.
“Carers and councillors need the Government to take social care seriously and get on with publishing their own muchdelayed social care green paper.”
Other options identified in the LGA green paper include means-testing universal benefits such as winter fuel payments and free TV licences, or adding a one per cent precept to income tax or National Insurance. Jon Wilson, director of adults and communities, said: “The paper takes a much broader view than just adult social care and we recognise the wider role local authorities have in supporting local people and improving wellbeing. “To that end, we think it entirely appropriate that the Government should address funding reform, not just for adult social care but for local government as a whole.” The Government is expected to publish its own green paper in the autumn which will examine how best to fund care of the elderly and disabled.