News / SIC to introduce charges for social care
SHETLAND Islands Council is to start charging islanders towards the cost of providing social care services as of 1 July.
The controversial move, which has been resisted by previous councils, will bring the SIC in line with other Scottish local authorities.
Council officials will embark on a three month consultation exercise to ensure that anyone who can’t afford to contribute will not be charged.
Chairman of the council’s social services committee, Cecil Smith, said no one liked to introduce a policy of means tested charges but the financial realities had dictated the move.
The department hopes to generate around £814,000 which will go towards its overall savings target of £4 million in 2013/14.
The percentage of how much people will be required to contribute towards their care has still to be worked out by a steering group over the next few months.
The council intends to take a percentage – 25 per cent has been spoken about – off what is above clients’ legally guaranteed income plus a buffer of 16.5 per cent.
For example, a couple on the pension credit standard minimum of £222.05 per week and receiving care can expect to be charged a percentage of their income that is above £259.00 (£222.05 plus 16.5 per cent).
Savings will be treated as income of £1 a week per £500 for those aged 60 and older, but savings below £10,000 will not be touched for this age group.
Exempt from this will be:
- All personal care delivered to people aged 65 or over. This includes support with meal preparation;
- Older people (aged 65 or older) leaving hospital who are assessed as requiring new, or additional home care services, for a period of 42 days;
- People who receive services as a consequence of an order under the Mental Health (Care & Treatment Act) Scotland;
- Individuals who are terminally ill.
The changes were agreed by the social services committee on Friday and will have to be ratified by the full council later in April.
The committee’s vice-chairman Allison (Flea) Duncan failed to find any support in his attempt to throw out the proposal.
Chairman Cecil Smith said it had been a very difficult week for him, but added that there was no alternative to introducing these charges.
“This council is not in the same financial position now as previous councils. If we don’t introduce something like this then either some of the services we provide have to be reduced drastically or even removed.
“This was one of the more difficult decisions for me. I always felt that we have to look after the vulnerable and elderly. I found it very, very difficult yesterday, but I just had to go with the recommendations which were in line with what we had asked them to do.
“There will be more efficiency savings within the department, but this is, as far as I am aware the only measure where we will be introducing charges. I am not aware of anything else lurking in the back ground,” he said.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider paying for membership to get additional features and services: -
- Remove non-local ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
