Dilnot cap lowered and implementation brought forward

Chancellor of the ExchequerGeorge Osborne announced the care fee cap announced in February (CCMn March 2013) will now come into force from April 2016 – a year earlier than the government originally announced. The annual budget for 2013 also confirmed that the cap is now set at £72,000 for reasonable’ care costs (lowered from the initial £75,000). However, it is unclear how reasonable’ it to be defined. A residential care means test for the increased upper limit will come into force at the same time. Mr Obsborne said: Taken together, these reforms should help an extra 100,000 people who would not receive any support under the current system. The reforms will help people who want to work hard and save for old age, by providing peace of mind that the savings they want to leave to their children will not be at risk of being wiped out by catastrophic care costs.’