• We asked Andrew Douglas, Partner at Awdry Bailey & Douglas Solicitors who specialises in elderly care, for his views on this issue?
• Surely it must be BREXIT? Because it gets all the headlines BREXIT will almost definitely be what DC is most remembered for? It is my belief however, that running a close second will be DC and his government’s unfulfilled pledges in respect of Social Care.
• Why do you say that? People may well recall that when DC won his last election in 2015 the Tories were saying that people would only have to pay for the first £72,000 of their elderly care costs. This was known as the “CAP”. The flag ship for the CAP at the time was the Care Act 2014. Shortly after DC was elected as Prime minister this pledge was broken (17.07.15 to be precise) and in December 2017 Jackie Doyle-Price, Health Minister said it would not be reintroduced.
• What does DC say about this? Recently DC was interviewed by the FT Weekend and stated that he was disappointed at his government’s record on Social Care and that the CAP was not capable of being pursued. His disappointment was because he thought that with the support of insurance products which the insurance industry were not interested in the CAP could have been a long term solution to the ongoing crisis in social
• What is the future? Nobody of course knows, but there is irony in what DC has reportedly said. This is because a green paper on the future of social care is to be published by the government in the summer and prior consultations have resulted in some insurers and in particular Royal London Mutual saying there is a potential important role for the insurance industry.
• What is best to do? Understand the existing rules under The Care Act 2014 and proceed accordingly. Waiting or doing nothing in relation to social care is not the best option. This approach only results in people not being organised and paying more.
• To know more and for a free appointment to find out answers to the questions that need answering email Andrew Douglas or his team on ajd@awdrys.co.uk or call on 0800 072 8636. Alternatively visit our website www.abdcare.co.uk
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