Changes to care charge plans are 'vile' says carers

Norfolk Disability Action Group members worry their loved ones are being ignored

A council's proposal to reduce the amount of money people with a disability can earn before they start paying for personal in-home care has been branded as “vile” by carers.

Norfolk County Council is considering reducing the minimum income guarantee (MIG) from £187 a week to £171.25, as part of measures to save £52.2m in the next financial year.

If the rate was changed, about a third of the 4,300 people affected by the MIG in Norfolk would pay more for care.

Debbie Bartlett, the interim executive director of adult social services at the authority, said that the council has been considering all of its options to make savings.

Judy and Nick Taylor's son Charlie would lose money if the plans are approved

Judy Taylor, the founder of Norfolk Disability Action Group, said: "I don’t know how anybody could sleep at night and put this through – these people are the most vulnerable in the county.

"Norfolk County Council can get these savings from elsewhere in the council."

The disability charity Scope said families with a disabled member would face additional costs of £975 a month.

Theresa Hewitt says the plan would end up costing more in the long term

Theresa Hewitt is a full-time carer for her sister Susan. The change to the MIG would mean Susan has less money to contribute to the household budget.

Ms Hewitt said: "I’ve been looking after her for 20 years now since my mum passed away.

"If the council does do this I will then be forced to go back into full-time work, which means then I’ve got to get PA [personal assistant] support for my sister for the hours that I’m not at home because she can’t be left alone."

'Voiceless'

Ms Bartlett said that the council has a budget deficit of more than £40m, so the authority is considering all its options to make savings.

Steve Morphew, a Labour councillor, disagreed. He said: "We've got a whole raft of things that we could do rather than take it out on people who are frankly voiceless.

"I'm just not prepared to sit back and let the voiceless be trodden on in the way that this Conservative council wants to do."

Alison Thomas, a Conservative councillor and cabinet member for adult social services, said nothing had been decided and that if the plans were approved at a cabinet meeting on 5 August it would be a "very difficult decision".

The authority's scrutiny committee raised concerns about the way the consultation into the plans had been carried out, and expressed fears that disabled people would lose independence if they had less money.

The committee said it could not recommend that the MIG be lowered and urged the cabinet to appeal to the government for extra funding for adult social care.