Biggest failure of social policy in modern times

A NEW tax to fix the broken social care system must be introduced, campaigners are demanding.

They said everyone should contribute during their lives in order to access basic care in old age.

Tough choices for reform include increasing tax and National Insurance to cover soaring costs.

But Older People’s Champion and former minister Baroness Altmann has suggested the radical Family Care Contribution – with the tax guaranteeing a standard level of state-provided care.

Those paying in throughout their lives would have the opportunity to top-up their fund to provide higher quality care, just like a pension.

Speaking exclusively to this newspaper, which is supporting the public’s view there should be an extra penny on tax, Baroness

Altmann said: “Social care needs parity of esteem with the NHS.

“The older generations deserve nothing less. Not to have any money or plan for how to pay for social care is astonishing – and in my view is the biggest failure of social policy in modern times.”

The Covid-19 crisis has brought the creaking care system into sharp focus, with some claiming the NHS had been saved at the expense of social care.

Around 80 per cent of care homes are privately run with councils paying for some residents but not others.

Most will be privately-funded occupants – including those who worked hard and saved all their lives then forced to sell their homes to pay for care in old age. Incredibly,

there have been 13 documents promising social care reform in the past 17 years , yet none has led to meaningful reform.

Unlike health care, social care is not provided for free. In England, anyone with assets over £23,250 has to contribute to the cost of care.There is no cap.

Meanwhile, hard-up councils have been forced to slash preventative services – like meals on wheels – fixing handrails and installing stairlifts.

This means the vulnerable have become reliant on the NHS as an emergency service. Baroness Altmann, 64, said: “It is easy to criticise and there are no easy answers. But with so much upheaval resulting from this crisis, let this be a moment for positive change.” Government spending on adult social care in England around £310 per person.

Experts estimate that without additional funding there will be a gap between demand pressures and available resources of at least £2.7billion in 2023/24.

A percentage point rise in all rates of income tax would raise around £5.5billion.

The same rise in all employee and self-employed National Insurance contribution rates would raise around £4.9billion, while a percentage point rise in the main rate of VAT would bring in £5.2billion. is It is understood proposals for funding via taxation were raised in talks with Sir Andrew Dilnot, former chairman of the Commission on the Funding of Care and Support.

However, details had not been announced before the March Budget.

The Department of Health and Social Care said: “There is a need for a long-term solution for social care and there are complex questions to address.We will bring forward a plan that puts social care on a sustainable footing.”