The Care Bill received Royal Assent on 14 May 2014.
The Act includes provision for:
- a minimum eligibility threshold across the country – a set of criteria that makes it clear when local authorities will have to provide support to people.
- local authority duty to consider the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of the individual needing care. They will also have a new duty to provide preventative services to maintain people’s health.
- the care system to be built around each person – through Personal Budgets.
- a cap on personal ‘care costs’ (not including accommodation costs) of £72,000.
- carers to be entitled to an assessment in their own right.
Disability Rights UK will be responding to future consultations on the regulations and guidance that accompany the Act, when they are published. It is the detail contained within these documents and the way in which they are implemented which will determine how successful the new Care Act will be.
You can find out more about the Care Act at http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/sn06863/social-care-funding-reform-faqs