Social care charging measure approved by Welsh Assembly

2010-01-26 23:41:17

Welsh Assembly members have voted to introduce the social care charging measure following a debate on 19 January 2010. The measure will set a minimum and maximum amount that all local authorities in Wales can charge for home care. At present, the figure varies wildly across the country with services users in Rhondda Cynon Taff paying £16.20 a week compared to £185 in Powys. Its introduction has been opposed by the Coalition on Charging Cymru, which warns that local authorities currently charging less than the maximum amount will take the opportunity to increase their fees – meaning a sharp increase in home care costs for many of the 14,000 Welsh service users who currently pay to receive care at home. The social care charging measure will have to receive royal approval before it can be passed as law.