A 92-year-old pensioner has welcomed the help with household bills announced in the Budget but said more needs to be done to support elderly care.
David Gower is paying up to £200-a-week from his personal pension to cover supplementary personal care. His private pension from British Rail is largely spent on that and two extra hours of domestic support weekly, adding up to £10,400-a-year.
Care costs and pension strain
Last year, he spent around £700 on legal fees battling his local authority over care provision. The rest of his near £13,000-a-year state pension goes toward household bills and the costs of his sheltered accommodation.
Mr Gower, who lives in sheltered accommodation in the south Midlands, receives professional care visits four times a day. As his care package is insufficient, he pays for additional supplementary assistance, which provides time for general cleaning, laundry, and changing bed linen.
Retirement and benefits
David retired after 35 years as a technical assistant with British Rail and therefore does not qualify for Pension Credit. He receives Carer's Allowance, which pays up to £86.45-a-week. He is left with just a few pounds a month after paying all his bills.
He cannot get around without a wheelchair following a stroke 14 years ago.
Call for more support
He said: "I am glad of the changes on household bills, some of the changes were very good. But I am disappointed there was no special provision for carers. There should be more support for them."
He believes the Prime Minister is right to focus on social care reform, but says questions remain about how it will be funded. He said: "My carers are not paid mileage or any allowances. The Government needs to look at this issue seriously. All parties should work together on the issue of elderly care and how to pay for it."
