Winners and losers in care-charge plan

A STRATEGY to claw back cash to support adult care services in Oldham is due to be considered by the council.

Labelled the Fairer Charging policy, if introduced it would see service users encouraged to claim the benefits they are entitled to.

But those with higher incomes or significant savings could be charged more.

Currently Oldham Council asks users to hand over half of their disability benefits — minus an automatic £12 deduction.

If passed, the current charging model would be scrapped in favour of the new strategy.

The hope is that a campaign aimed at getting people to increase their uptake of benefits would increase the council’s income, which would in turn be reinvested into the care budget.

It is estimated the council could collect more than £1 million extra over the next three years as a result of the changes.

Councillor Phil Harrison, cabinet member for adult and social services, said: “The challenge we are facing is clear. If we don’t succeed in bringing more income into our social care budget then the only alternative would be to start looking at reducing people’s care packages — and that is something we simply don’t want to consider.

“There is no shame in claiming what you are rightly owed by the system to provide for your health and wellbeing in later life.

“If we can increase the uptake of these benefits it will mean more income for both the service users and our care budget.”

The policy would also protect those on lower incomes as people on income support or pension credit would be exempt.

But some users could see their charges increase.

It is proposed the same capital rules that are applied to residential care should be imposed, meaning those with savings of more than £23,250 would have to pay the full cost of care.

A sliding scale would be used to assess those with less than this amount, meaning that some savers may have to start contributing more for their social services care.

Councillor Harrison added: “The charges of each user would be reviewed with, of course, an automatic right to appeal.

“We would also fund transitional protection for the first 12 months to assist any users who might face increased charges.”

A streamline of the administrative system behind the charges would also tie in to cut costs.

The plans will go before cabinet at a meeting on Monday.