1800% rise in home help bill for disabled Billy Montgomery

Oct 12 2008 By Mark Aitken Political Editor

VULNERABLE elderly and disabled people have been hit by soaring care charges - up by 1800 per cent.

Some of the poorest people in Scotland have been told they must pay the shocking increases as they struggle with rising food and fuel bills.

Last night campaigners warned people would die as a result of the cuts, blamed by councils on the SNP Government's local tax freeze.

One retired miner in Fife told how his bill has risen from s4 to s77 for eight hours a week.

Billy Montgomery, 59, who has speech and mobility problems after two strokes, said: "It's extortionate and there's no way I'm going to pay it."

The highest home care bills in Scotland are in Glasgow, where the maximum charge rose during 2007 and 2008 from s11.30 to s15.45 an hour, up 37 per cent. Inflation is 4.7 per cent.

In Argyll&Bute the rate has risen from s9.75 an hour to s12.15, or 25 per cent, while in Edinburgh it has gone up from s9 to s10.50, a rise of 17 per cent.

The SNP - elected on a pledge to freeze council tax - claim local authorities should manage their money better.

But that leaves pensioners and disabled people - such as ex-miner Billy - out of pocket.

He was paying s4 a week until August but was told the same eight hours with a carer will cost him s77.

Billy, of Cowdenbeath, said: "I was disgusted and angry when I got a bill from Fife Council telling me I have to pay s77.65 a week.

"There's no way I can afford this. How would councillors feel if suddenly they had to find nearly s300 extra every month?

"I was invalided out of the pit in 1994 after I had two strokes.

"I was unable to talk or move any part of my body. But I have worked hard with the medical staff to get back some of my mobility and speech.

"It's not easy and I rely on the help of my sister Margaret and the council's home carers to have a life."

Fife Council claim fewer than a third of people receiving home care will have to pay the full charge. But the protest group Campaign Against Charges say the changes will hit around 6500 disabled and elderly people and a quarter could stop using care.

Spokeswoman Maureen Closs said: "This is an injustice.Weare talking about people who pay for services through council tax.

"People don't pay for an operation in hospital so why should they have to pay for care in their communities? Paying for home care is a double tax.

Carers do a brilliant job. They help people get up, washed and dressed. There will be either a much greater strain on people's families or they face being bed-ridden because they can't afford the services.

"To be frank, I think there will be loss of life."

Unfair Help The Aged Scotland chief Liz Duncan said: "It is unfair if councils are trying to balance their books by billing the most vulnerable and poorestmembers of their communities.

"We hope, along with these bills, councils offer an in-depth check for each person to ensure they are claiming their maximum benefit. I am extremely doubtful the shortfall could be made up.

"That will lead people to the position where they have to make a choice as to whether they can afford this care.

"I suspect many of them can't and will reduce the number of hours they are receiving."

Labour finance spokesman Andy Kerr said: "The SNP's budget cuts are biting hard. From Fife to Argyll & Bute, home care charges are up and services cut.

It is shameful people in Fife are facing increases in charges of more than 1800 per cent."

Since 2002, Scots pensioners have received free personal and nursing care but many still have to pay for home care such as housework, laundry and shopping.

The amount varies from area to area and the charges depend on pensioners' income.

Most disabled people under 65 have to pay for home care - including personal and nursing care - with charges depending on income and ability to pay. Fife Council say the revised charges are in line with national guidelines and only those who can afford to will be asked to pay.

Councillor Tim Brett said: "No one who needs a service will be left without necessary support to keep them safe and healthy within their home.

"We are doing a financial assessment for users to ensure their benefits are maximised.

"The amount an individual has to pay towards home care will depend on disposable income."

FIFE

WAS s4 in March 2007

NOW s77 from August 2008

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