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Caps, opt-ins, opt outs: is England making progress in reforming care funding?
- Author:
- LLOYD James
- Publisher:
- Strategic Society Centre
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 24p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This discussion paper provides a response to the government's recent progress report on care funding. The government’s report ‘Caring for our future: progress report on funding reform’, July 2012, set out the government's response to the recommendations of the Commission on Funding of Care and Support. In this document, the government accepts as the basis for reform the principle put forward by the Commission of financial protection through capped costs and an extended means test, but reveals that it will not make a decision on the capped cost model until the next Spending Review expected in late 2013. This response paper argues that the government's progress report effectively acknowledges that care funding reform could proceed on a cost-neutral basis for the Treasury, and not interfere with the government's deficit reduction strategy. However, the government fails to set out any of the options for paying for care funding reform and does not seek to use its report to inform a wider debate on this issue. This discussion paper suggests that progress toward care funding reform may occur in several ways: public acceptance of the difficult tax and spending decisions required to make the capped cost model cost-neutral for the Treasury; the implementation of a low-cost capped cost model; or the creation of a voluntary capped cost state-sponsored insurance scheme that becomes mandatory over time.
Who uses telecare?
- Authors:
- ROSS Andy, LLOYD James
- Publisher:
- Strategic Society Centre
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 44p.
- Place of publication:
- London
A research project investigated the prevalence of telecare users and potential users in England in 2008, using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (a nationally representative study of older people in England). This report on the project looks at the potential of telecare and assistive technology in provision of care and support as the population ages. It describes the study data and methodology, and presents and discusses the findings together with statistical tables. It focuses in particular on 2 types of devices identified: mobile personal alarms and alerting devices fixed to the home. It covers demographic and socio-economic characteristics of telecare users, reporting that just over 2% of individuals aged 50 and above used a personal alarm and just over 4% had an alerting device fitted to their property, and that telecare is predominantly used by those in the 70 and over age group and especially by white females. It also covers the housing and homes of telecare users, health and disability of telecare users, and care and support for telecare users. The study included analysis to identify and describe potential telecare users and predict those most likely to qualify for and benefit from the use of telecare. A separate discussion paper (The Future of Who Uses Telecare) provides accompanying policy analysis and discussion.
The future cost of housing benefit for older people
- Author:
- LLOYD James
- Publisher:
- Strategic Society Centre
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 18p.
- Place of publication:
- London
There is growing awareness that among today's younger generation, a larger proportion may rent throughout their life compared to previous cohorts. However, in debate on 'generation rent', little consideration has been given to the fact that most people who rent in retirement rely on state support for their housing costs, in the form of means tested Housing Benefit. This report examines how trends in longevity and tenure will affect the future cost of Housing Benefit for older people in the very long term. Using projections of owner-occupation rates and the number of retirees in 2060, the report finds that the UK Exchequer will have to spend an extra £8.13 billion on Housing Benefit for pensioners each year compared to today. The report argues that debate on declining rates of home-ownership must recognise the long-term implications for public spending, and given these future costs, it is legitimate for the government to take aggressive measures to boost rates of home-ownership now.