LOCAL AUTHORITIES CRITICISE CAPITAL SPENDING LIMITS AFFEXTING ELDERLY

t The Government has short-changed councils over its Budget pledge to raise the capital limits that allow the elderly and disabled to keep more of their own cash when they go into residential and nursing homes, local authorities claimed yesterday.

Raising the amounts individuals will be allowed to keep from pounds 3,000 to pounds 10,000 and doubling the point at which help starts from pounds 8,000 to pounds 16,000 will cost local authorities who administer the scheme in England an estimated pounds 70m to pounds 90m, Rita Stringfellow, chair of the Association of Metropolitan Authorities social services committee said yesterday.

Kenneth Clarke, the Chancellor, however, has provided only pounds 60m with which to make the change for the whole of the UK, she said.