Somerset couple say dementia care should not be taxed

Georgie Marshall says the VAT on dementia care leads to some people not being able to afford services

A woman whose husband depends on dementia care says an "unfair tax" on the service should be abolished.

Georgie Marshall, from Somerset, said her husband Barrie attends The Filo Project twice a week.

"He goes off really happily in the morning, they do poetry, they do singing, they have lunch together. He comes back happy," she said.

Despite being a not-for-profit group, VAT rules require The Filo Project to charge families an extra 20%.

It says this is because the government has not removed its exemption legislation in line with other exemptions

Staff said families supported by them had paid more than £700,000 just in VAT for care since the Exeter-based organisation was set up in 2014.

"It's accumulatively an awful lot of money," Filo Project director Dr Liz Dennis said.

Campaigners are delivering an open letter asking for VAT to be removed from anything to do with dementia care to 10 Downing Street.

"I feel really strongly that the Filo project is an amazing group that supports my husband and obviously myself," Ms Marshall said.

"I always call the hosts angels.

"This VAT is stopping people from attending Filo because costs are so high. It's an unfair tax on dementia sufferers."

Ms Dennis added: "We're saving the government money and could save them more, if families could afford more care."

The government has been approached for comment.