Setting clear, fair rules for financial support in the future
Whichever way we share responsibility for care in the future, there will only be so much money available for the Government to spend. So we need to think about how that money should be used to help people who need care.
We need to get the balance right on three issues, and for each one of these issues, we would like you to tell us which system you think is fairer. There are no right or wrong answers. Your opinions will help us to set clear, fair rules for a more sustainable financial support system.
National or local?
Different systems for different needs?
More support for people with low income and assets?
National or local?
At the moment, decisions about care services are made at a local level. This leads to variations in the services that are available. In the future should it be central or local government that decides who is entitled to help, and what they’re entitled to?
| Pros | Cons | |
|---|---|---|
| National – decisions made by central government | Everyone with the same care needs will get the same level of help | Levels of support will depend on how much money central government wants to spend on care and support |
| People will be encouraged to plan more because they will know what kind of help they’re going to get | The help that people get won’t take into account local differences (for example, people living in a rural area might need more help with transport than those from a town) | |
| Local – decisions made by local authorities | People can have more of a say about what kind of help is provided in their area | Levels of support will depend on how much money your local authority wants to spend on care and support |
| The levels of help that are available can consider local differences | Help will vary depending on where you live, making it difficult to plan and potentially causing problems if you move home |
Please note: we're not asking who should deliver or provide actual care and support services. This would still be done by local organisations.
Different systems for different needs?
In the future, should everyone who needs help receive the same amount of help, or should the government give more help to people who are unable to plan and prepare for their own care and support?
| Pros | Cons | |
|---|---|---|
| Different systems for different groups of people | Priority can be given to people whose condition is associated with high costs (for example disabled people, or people who have had an accident or a sudden illness) | People will have to take more responsibility for preparing for those care and support costs which are likely to occur in older age |
| Same system for all | Everybody would get the same | Disabled people, or people who become ill or have an accident, could lose out because they couldn’t afford the care and support they needed |
More support for people with low income and assets?
In the future, should everyone who needs help receive the same amount of help, or should the government give more help to people with low incomes and few assets?
| Pros | Cons | |
|---|---|---|
| Different support, depending on financial means | Support would be targeted towards the people who need it the most | People who have worked hard and planned their finances could feel that they are being penalised |
| Same support for all | Everybody would get the same | People who do not really need financial help will get it regardless |
| There might not be enough money available for people on the lowest incomes to get all the care and support they need |
