Candidates reject Tory proposals for the elderly

Proposed Conservative policies for the elderly have come under fire from the Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates. Nick Terdre reports.

In their manifesto released last week, the Tories announced their intention of making changes to state pensions by scrapping the triple lock – a mechanism introduced in 2010 to ensure that the pension is increased every year by whichever is the highest of inflation, average pay or 2.5% –means- testing the winter fuel allowance and requiring that pensioners pay the whole cost of their social care down to the last £100,000 of the value of their home – the so-called dementia tax.

Labour’s Peter Chowney said: “Once again, the Conservatives have revealed just how little they care about those who need the support of society the most. I am especially angry that a future Tory government would attack the living standards of our pensioners, all of whom have paid into the system all their lives, and deserve to live above the poverty line.

“Scrapping the triple lock will lose pensioners £300 a year, and more than eight in ten pensioners will lose another £300 through means testing the Winter Fuel Allowance. But the new Dementia Tax is especially cruel.

“The Prime Minister attempted a u-turn on her Dementia Tax on Monday [22 May], but got into a muddle and later then denied it was a u-turn. This doesn’t sound like someone who can be trusted – it’s clear that our oldest residents in Hastings and Rye are not safe under a Tory government.”

Return of the nasty party

The LibDem candidate Nick Perry, who works locally as a social care professional, said: “The Conservative Manifesto shows us that the nasty party is back. Mrs Rudd and Mrs May are betraying older homeowners and their families by planning to snatch their homes when they die.

“Many older citizens currently face the difficult situation of having a deferred payment, to cover the costs of residential care.  Now the frail and elderly receiving social care support in their own home will face what is effectively a ‘Personal Death Tax’ charged against their assets. And the more help you need, the more Amber says should be snatched away when you die.

“It’s clear that if the Conservatives get their way, as you get old and frail the costs are down to you and you alone.

“The Liberal Democrats will fight this cold, mean-spirited assault on Britain by Amber Rudd and Theresa May. We will protect those that need the most help. We want to secure the £72,000 cap on social care costs which we won from the Tories during the Coalition years.”

In coalition the LibDems secured a commitment to introduce a cap on care costs from 2016. However this was first delayed by the Conservative government and has now been scrapped, Mr Perry said. The Liberal Democrats have committed in their manifesto to implementing the recommendations of the Dilnot Commission, which would mean a cap on care costs of £72,000.

Peter Chowney can be contacted on peter.chowney@hastingsandryelabour.org.uk. See also the local Labour party’s website.

Nick Perry can be contacted on 07714330642 or at @nickperrylibdem. See also his website.

Also in: Election 2017