People in residential care to keep more of their money

The Welsh Government’s five year plan, “Taking Wales Forward”, committed to more than doubling the capital limit used in charging for residential social care, from £24,000 to £50,000.

Today, Rebecca Evans has announced that the new limit will be implemented in phases, starting with an increase to £30,000 from April next year.

The decision to phase implementation reflects feedback from local authorities and care home providers and is designed to ensure they have sufficient time to adapt to the changes. It also takes into account independent research commissioned by the Welsh Government to obtain up to date costings for implementing the change.

From next April a full disregard of the War Disablement Pension (WDP) will also be introduced in all local authority financial assessments for charging for social care.  

Minister for Social Services and Public Health, Rebecca Evans, said:

“This Government is committed to supporting older people, and those requiring care,  which is why our five year plan “Taking Wales Forward”, pledged to  more than double the capital people can keep when in residential care. This frees up more of people’s money for them to use as they wish.

“We are fulfilling this pledge. I am pleased to announce that the capital limit will increase to £30,000 from next April. This is a positive first step in the delivery of our commitment to have a limit of £50,000.

“The decision takes account of stakeholders’ views that a phased approach to implementing the new cap would allow local authorities and care homes time to adapt to the changes and for us to measure the day-to-day impact of the higher limit.

“I am also pleased to confirm that from next April a full disregard of the War Disablement Pension will be introduced in all local authority financial assessments for charging for social care.  This change will ensure armed forces veterans in receipt of these pensions will not be required to use them to pay for the cost of their care.”