Care cap architect blasts Tories' 'disappointing' change that will hit north hardest

The only people that will be unaffected by these new measures, are those with assets worth more than £186,000. So the Tories are trying to save money by targeting the poor

Sir Andrew Dilnot, the architect of social care reforms has said he is “very disappointed” with new care plans sneaked out yesterday that will hit northerners the hardest.

The Welsh economist said those with less assets “will not see any benefit”, with the Government set to make savings “exclusively” from this group.

In a policy paper published on Wednesday evening as MPs pressed the Prime Minister on Tory sleaze, the Government revealed restrictions on how quickly those getting state support can reach the cap.

Boris Johnson has been accused of conning Brits as the poorest people will still face the catastrophic care costs that he was promising to protect them from.

Sir Andrew told the Treasury Committee people with significant care needs and assets of £106,000 will be hardest hit by the changes to the cap, but it will not make a difference to anyone with more than £186,000.

He said around 60% of older people who end up needing social care have assets less than £186,000 and about 30-40% less than £106,000.

Department of Health and Social Care officials said this is to ensure people “do not reach the cap at an artificially faster rate than what they contribute”.

But Sir Andrew said there is a “sort of North-South axis to this that people living in northern and other less high house price areas are likely to be hit harder by this on average”.

Sir Andrew also noted people who are of a working age but need long term care and the disabled have been let down by these new measures.

“It does seem reasonable to expect a flourishing working aged person to make some contributions to their care, but it doesn’t seem reasonable to say to a young adult entering entering the working age with a pre existing social care needs that they should have to provide for themselves,” Sir Andrew added.

The Prime Minister dismissed criticism from Sir Andrew, insisting the new plans are a “massive improvement for everybody in the whole country because what we’re saying is for the first time in history we’re stopping people having to pay unlimited quantities for their care”.

Liz Kendall MP, Labour ’s Shadow Social Care Minister said: “Andrew Dilnot’s comments today confirm what we already knew – that the Prime Minister’s so-called cap on care costs is a complete con.

“Instead, ordinary working people are facing a tax hike that will do nothing to improve care now, and instead of protecting their parents’ homes, will only protect the homes of the wealthiest in our society.

This small print, sneaked out today under a cloud of Tory sleaze, shows Johnson’s so-called cap on care costs is an even bigger con than we initially thought.”

The Government plans to amend the Care Act to ensure the reforms are clear, subject to parliamentary approval.

Asked how much he thinks the change could save, Sir Andrew estimated it could be hundreds of millions a year, but less than a billion.

He added: “I think it’s disappointing, it finds savings exclusively from the less well-off group.”

Rachel Harrison, GMB National Officer, said: “Our social care system is on its knees and desperately needs more cash – everyone knows that.

“But picking the pockets of the poorest pensioners is cruel, misguided and doesn’t really look like levelling up.”