- Conference
- 2024 National Retired Members Conference
- Date
- 6 September 2024
- Decision
- Carried
This Conference notes with dismay this Government’s decision to postpone the Social Care Cost Cap, due to be introduced in October 2025, despite its manifesto commitments towards social care. This would have set a cap on personal care costs of £86,000 but no funding had been allocated.
The huge cost of social care for many pensioners and their families results in apprehension and distress, forcing homes to be sold, life savings spent, and, in some instances, homeowners forced into inappropriate equity release schemes. One of the greatest fears is that once their money is spent, they will no longer be able to afford the costs of their chosen care home and will be forced to move elsewhere. Those with savings above the current threshold or ineligible for pension credit by reason of their income from occupational pensions will be hardest hit.
This Conference therefore calls on the National Retired Members Committee to:
A)Seek to raise awareness of the issues amongst retired members and encourage them to lobby their MPs on the need to introduce a cap on social care:
B. Encourage retired members to participate in and support branch, regional, and national UNISON initiatives and campaigns by pensioner organisations to introduce a cap on social care:
C. Seek to work with the National Executive Council (NEC) and Labour Link to call for its introduction in October 2025.