How are we going to pay for social care? Debate needed say Plaid
Plaid’s Social Justice Spokesperson Dr. Dai Lloyd AM is urging residents in Swansea to come forward with their views on how we pay for social care in the future.
The Welsh Assembly Government has launched a Green Paper consultation process ‘Paying for Care in Wales: creating a fair and sustainable system’ which runs until February 28th 2010, and are asking for views from the Welsh public.
Welsh Assembly Ministers will discuss the outcome of the consultation with Ministerial counterparts at the UK Government as part of a UK-wide review of care funding.
The Green Paper outlines 5 options on how we pay for future social care including;
Paying for yourself - with no Government support,
Taxation - with people paying tax throughout their lives,
Partnership – with responsibility shared between the Government and the person who has care needs
Insurance – either with private insurers or state-backed insurance
Comprehensive – where everyone over retirement age who had the resources to do so would be required to pay around £20,000 into a state insurance scheme
Dr. Dai Lloyd said:
“The issue of how we pay for care in the future is one of the major issues that face us as a society. It is clear that the Welsh age profile is changing. Scientific and technological advances mean that more of us are living longer. Over the next ten years for example, the number of people between 65 and 84 is projected to increase by 24%, and those over 85 by 29%.
“By comparison, the number of working age people compared with the number over 65’s has already fallen from 5.1 to 1 in 1951 to 3.3 to 1 in 2009, and is forecast to drop even further.
“The result is pretty obvious. As a society, we are likely to face an ever increasing bill for social care in future and we must decide now how we are going to pay for it.
“I very much welcome the Assembly Government’s attempts to consult with the people of Wales over this issue, and would urge people to take up that opportunity and have their say.”
Dr. Lloyd added:
“There are no simple answers here, but there is a clear requirement to balance the needs of those who simply cannot afford to provide care for themselves, while also protecting those who have worked hard and saved over their lifetimes.
“I would argue that a fund paid for through general taxation throughout our working lives, based on people’s ability to pay, is one that meets those two requirements. ”
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Notes:
Information on the Green Paper and the consultation process can be found at www.payingforcareinwales.net
Views can be submitted by e-mail payingforcare@wales.gsi.gov.uk, or by post at:
Paying for Care Team
Older People and Long-term Care Policy Division
Welsh Assembly Government
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
