Lib Dems: “Broken care system works like a tax on getting ill”

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

Commenting on a report from The King’s Fund showing that more than 220,000 people in England must pay the full cost of their social care simply because they have savings and assets above £23,250, Clive Jones MP, Liberal Democrat Care and Carers spokesperson, said:

“Families who have worked hard and saved all their lives are being forced to hand over everything they own because a loved one develops dementia or needs help at home. For more than 220,000 people, our broken care system works like a tax on getting ill, and it is wiping out savings that should have been passed on to children and grandchildren.

“The promised National Care Service won't be up and running until the 2030s, and families simply can't wait that long. Every month of delay means more people watching their life savings drain away.

“We need a safety net of free personal care this Parliament, not in many years’ time. The government must tackle this crisis now, working across parties to deliver a fair system, rather than kicking the can down the road.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

The King's Fund 'Out of sight and out of pocket' report can be read here.