Over A Third Of Over 50s May Not Have Finances To Fund Care Needs Says Report

More than a third of people over 50 may not be able to fund their social care needs, a new report has revealed.

The Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) has published Care in later life: incentives to use assets to pay for care sponsored by The Association of British Insurers (ABI). With more people than ever reaching older age it has long been recognised that the care system in England is in need of an overhaul. Expanding the number of financial options available may be one way to increase awareness and encourage individuals to think about and engage with the issue of care in later life. This report analyses five proposals raised by others within the financial industry.

There is a clearly identifiable group of people who are unable to claim support from the state but do not have adequate finances to fund their care needs. This group may benefit from some way of preparing, or to be able to efficiently use currently owned assets to meet care costs if, following reform, they are required to self-fund. This report considers a target group to be people who have savings and assets, excluding their house value, of more than the threshold for losing state support (£23,250), but less than £200,000. The target group makes up approximately 37% of people in England aged over 50.

John Adams, Senior Policy Analyst at the PPI said “In 2010, the Government set up the Commission on Funding of Care and Support, (“the Dilnot Commission”), among the Commission’s findings was the difficulty people have in adequately planning or providing for their care needs. Individuals may not recognise the need to pay for care, they may avoid thinking about the possibility of requiring care, or may believe that the NHS is responsible for paying for care. The difficulties that people face in planning for care could have led to the lack of demand for care funding arrangements, which in turn means financial

providers have had little incentive to develop care products.

The diversity in people’s assets means that a single solution to this complex issue is unlikely to work for all. In developing a care funding framework, a wide range of options might need to be available, with the aim of enabling people to find the best solution for themselves.

A properly functioning care funding solution is likely to need engagement of individuals, the State and financial providers. Raising awareness of this need to provide for care, is an issue that remains and requires further attention.”