On 4 July 2011, the economist Andrew Dilnot published his recommendations for the future funding of social care. He has made proposals to change the current social care system so that it is more fair, sustainable and affordable.

What has Andrew Dilnot said?

The Commission on the Funding of Care and Support was set up by the coalition Government in July 2010, tasked with looking at the way that the care and support system works currently and what needs to be done to make it work better. The Chair of the Commission, Andrew Dilnot has said that the current system is not fit for purpose, will not cope with the increasing demands from growing numbers of older people, and will not provide good quality care that we want for older people.

Andrew Dilnot has made a series of proposals for fundamental reform to the way that care is provided and funded. His recommendations deal with social care for all age groups.

On 13 January 2011 the Government's new Pensions Bill received its first reading in Parliament. These changes, which include an increase in the State Pension Age, will make a difference to anyone who hasn’t already retired.

OLDER people need no longer struggle to survive on their State Pension alone. Benefits for senior citizens have increased over the past 10 years and if you are now on a low income and don’t have much money in the bank, then you may well be entitled to extra cash via an array of benefits. One of them is Pension Credit and here we explain the rules and regulations surrounding this state benefit…

THE STATE Pension (SP), formerly known as the retirement pension, aims to give people a regular income and is based on National Insurance contributions.

The full weekly rates for the basic State Pension are £102.15 for a single person and £61.20 for a spouse based on her/his husband/wife’s contributions.

The other types of State Pension include the Additional State Pension, the Graduated Pension and Over-80s Pension. They are based on National Insurance contributions and the age that you can claim it is your State Pension age for women and 65 for men.

FOR many people, a retirement flat or bungalow is an attractive option. Whether it is the company of other residents or the added security of a warden, it can prove an ideal alternative to going into a care home. In this section we outline the different retirement housing options available to you…

What Is It?

RETIREMENT housing is aimed specifically for older people. Also known as sheltered housing, it tends to come in schemes of about 20 to 40 flats or bungalows. There is usually an alarm system and the majority of schemes have a warden. There are normally shared facilities such as a communal lo unge, garden and laundry. Meals aren’t provided unless it is in extra care sheltered housing.

AN INCREASING number of people are unlocking the capital in their homes by taking out Equity Release schemes. But they come with a minefield of risks and potential problems. In this section we outline the pros and cons of Equity Release…

What Is It?:
EQUITY Release means the various methods that older people can use to release capital and generate income from their homes, either by a loan secured on their property, or by selling their home but continuing to live in it.

IN THIS section we examine some of the state benefits that are available before you reach State Pension age…

Types Of Benefit

SOME state benefits can be claimed as an individual. These are usually based on your national insurance contribution record and are referred to as contributory benefits. Your entitlement to these is not affected by your partner’s circumstances; nor is it affected by savings, capital or other income.

But some other state benefits are means-tested. This means you have to claim as a couple if you live with a partner. A partner means your husband, wife, civil partner or someone you live with as part of a couple. Your savings and income are added together when calculating if you’re entitled to benefit.

RENTING privately can be a good option for some older people. In this section we explain the best ways of finding a suitable property and the procedures involved in the run-up to signing a tenancy agreement…