Local Government Authority (LGA) launches it's own green paper on social care - Alzheimer's Society comments

The LGA eight-week consultation  sets out options for how the system could be improved, as well as possible solutions to paying for adult social care in the long-term, which include:

• Increasing income tax for taxpayers of all ages – a 1p rise on the basic rate could raise £4.4 billion in 2024/25
• Increasing national insurance – a 1p rise could raise £10.4 billion in 2024/25
• A Social Care Premium - charging the over-40s and working pensioners an earmarked contribution (such as an addition to National Insurance or another mechanism). If it was assumed everyone over 40 was able to pay the same amount (not the case under National Insurance), raising £1 billion would mean a cost of £33.40 for each person aged 40+ in 2024/25.
• Means testing universal benefits, such as winter fuel allowance and free TV licences, could raise £1.9 billion in 2024/25
• Allowing councils to increase council tax – a 1 per cent rise would generate £285 million in 2024/25
   

Sally Copley, Director of Policy, Campiagns and Partnerships at Alzheimer's Society, says: 

'One million people will be living with dementia by 2021 and they’ll need costly social care to survive. Our own reports and campaigns have shown that people with dementia are taking the financial hit, with typical dementia care costs reaching £100,000, and paying a ‘dementia premium’ of up to 40% more for their care than people without the condition.

'The LGA proposals are a step in the right direction and will stimulate a much needed public debate, enabling the muffled voices of those affected to come through. The Government has said that its upcoming Green Paper will now not be the panacea that people with dementia have waited too long for, but tinkering with reform will not suffice. It’s now over a year since the public outcry over the dementia tax - they need to tackle dementia care head on. We welcome the LGA stepping into the fray. They are often at the sharp end of delivering social care with inadequate budgets, and there is a lot we can do to work together.'