1. Middle classes will be forced to stump up £35,000 to pay for care as
pensioners
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
The better off will be expected to cover at least the first £35,000 of
their care in old age under recommendations by a government-
commissioned review, it was reported today.
Forthcoming proposals by the Dilnot Commission will call for more
state funding for elderly care so that the current £23,250-threshold means
test can be increased.
But it will also cap the contributions of those with higher-than-
average assets at between £35,000 and £50,000, according to the
Observer. People will be encouraged to take out insurance to cover the
cost.
The proposals, expected to be published within the next couple of
weeks, are hoped by ministers to bring a consensus to what has been a
highly inflammatory subject on which the political parties have failed to
work together in the past.
However, there were already tensions at the top of the coalition
Government, with Liberal Democrats keen on the proposals and Tories less
keen to reopen a potentially damaging subject.
Cross-party talks between all three main parties broke down before
the last general election amid Tory accusations that Labour wanted to
impose a 'death tax' to pay for social care.
The economist Andrew Dilnot was appointed by the coalition last
year to study the issue and make recommendations on an area in which
the ageing population is creating a growing multi-billion pound black
hole.
Organisations including Age UK, the British Heart Foundation and
the Alzheimer's Society have written to Prime Minister David Cameron
urging him to act on the Dilnot proposals.
A Department of Health spokesman said: 'Once we have received
related reports, we will consider its findings and welcome continued
constructive engagement from all stakeholders.'