3.2 million think there is no point saving for old age as it will be swallowed by care bills" More than three million middle aged and retired people have effectively given up saving for their old age believing there is no point because it will only be taken away to pay for care, research shows.
Britains biggest charity working with elderly people warned that the Governments long-awaited overhaul of the care system, currently before Parliament, will fail if large numbers of people simply abandon saving for later life.
Age UK said that the new system, which will cap the amount people have to pay for care in their lifetime, relies on people being able to make a contribution to the cost and could be thrown into crisis if too many people turn their back on saving.
The system, based on the recommendations of a landmark Commission chaired by the economist Andrew Dilnot, is due to come into force in just over two years time.
It will introduce a theoretical £72,000 cap on the amount anyone has to pay for their care in their lifetime, overhaul the system of assessing whether people are frail enough to need care and prevent those who do have to pay having to sell their home.........."
"....But polling, carried out for Age UK, suggests that the reforms have so far failed to persuade enough reassurance to people to plan for their future needs.
It comes after ministers were accused of betraying elderly people after it became clear that a promised universal scheme meant to prevent people having to sell their home to pay for care would not be available to hose with modest savings...." 3.2 million think there is no point saving for old age as it will be swallowed by care bills