MPs back Government's social care funding cap move - The Evesham Observer

MPs back Government's social care funding cap move

Evesham Editorial 23rd Nov, 2021   0

EVESHAM and Pershore’s MPs were among the 272 Conservatives to back the controversial social care cap for England.

Both Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston and Harriett Baldwin backed the Government’s plans despite a significant Tory rebellion.

The Commons endorsed plans announced last week to exclude means-tested council support payments from a new £86,000 lifetime limit on costs.

Labour and other opposition parties rejected the plan and claimed poorer people would lose out from the change, a claim challenged by the Prime Minister who said his plans were ‘more generous’ than the current system.




The cap will cover fees for personal care, like help with washing and dressing. It will not cover living costs such as care home fees, food or utility bills.

Under the government’s wider social care plan, from October 2023 those with assets of less than £20,000 will not have to pay anything from these towards care fees – although they might have to pay from their income.


Those with more than £100,000 in assets – the value of their home, savings or investments – will not get any financial help from the council

Those with assets between £20,000 and £100,000 will qualify for council help, but will have to pay £86,000 out of their own pocket to reach the cap

MPs backed an amendment to the Health and Care Bill required to implement the government’s proposed cap by 272 votes to 246, a majority of 26 despite the Government’s current 77 seat majority in the House.

While 19 Conservative MPs voted against the government, a further 68 Conservatives abstained or had no vote recorded.

The bill will now head to the House of Lords, where peers are widely expected to push for changes to the government’s blueprint for how the cap will work.

Local authorities will meet care costs beyond the £86,000 cap, which ministers say will be funded through a new health and social care tax.

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