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08
Mar 2023
Government 'refuses to consider' compensating North Yorkshire for scrapped care pilot
The government has "refused to consider" funding the costs of additional work on a now scrapped care reform scheme in North Yorkshire.
North Yorkshire County Council was one of six pilot authorities chosen by the Department of Health and Social Care for the project, which would have seen a cap of £86,000 placed on each individual’s spending on their care in their lifetime.
The reforms would also have allowed people to retain up to £100,000 of their own assets and still qualify for funding for their care. The current limit is £23,250.
However, the government has since informed councils the scheme is being abandoned after initially delaying it until October 2025.
The council carried out an overhaul of its IT system as part of the move and looks set to absorb any additional costs associated with staffing into its own budget.
It was awarded £1,159,684 in funding from government as part of the pilot.
But despite this initial funding, the Department of Health and Social Care has refused to contribute to the ongoing costs.
Anton Hodge, assistant director for strategic resources at the council, said in a report due before councillors on Friday:
Read more:
- Reassurances issued over ‘onerous’ social care revamp across Harrogate district
- Social care pilot scheme in Harrogate district ‘could bankrupt council’ without more funding
Senior councillors had previously warned that the pilot could "bankrupt councils" if more funding was not made available.
Cllr Michael Harrison, the Conservative executive member for adult services at the council, said much of the work for the trailblazer was taken on by staff taking on additional responsibilities.
He added:
A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said:
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