Conservative plans on social care – the first big question

The Conservative party manifesto includes a proposal to raise the limit for means testing of capital to £100,000. Wrigleys consider the implications.

On the Today programme this morning (Thursday 18th May), Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State for the Department of Health, said that this sum would be "protected."

But this begs a big question -  whether, as now, users of care services will still be expected to contribute from their capital when this falls below the headline capital limit?

The existing means testing system, and the system which was postponed in 2016, both also contain a lower capital limit. Between the headline and lower capital limits, people must still contribute a weekly amount. If the lower limit is £25,000, then on the current method of calculation, the contribution would be £300 per week. This means that most recipients of social care would continue to pay for their own care even when their total assets reduce below £100,000.

The means testing system in Wales does not contain this lower capital limit and so the headline capital limit is the true limit for capital contributions.

Which system a Conservative government would apply, makes a big difference to the impact of this measure.