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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BY THE DEPUTY OF ST. JOHN
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 2nd NOVEMBER 2010
Question
Given that some months ago I raised with the Minister the cost of non-contributory persons in our care homes (a person who has not paid Jersey Social Security contributions) would he advise whether these people fall into the Social Security budget, directly or indirectly, and if they do would he explain –
- what work has the Social Security Department undertaken to resolve this issue?
- how many reciprocal health agreement payments, if any, are pending?
- how much taxpayers' money is spent supporting these people annually?
Answer
The concept of a "non-contributory person" is not one that is used by the Social Security Department in relation to individuals in care homes. The department only supports people in residential care if they have satisfied the residency conditions for Income Support immediately prior to making an application for assistance (the principal residency condition is that of five years' continuous residence).
Assistance is means tested and the applicant must submit a full declaration of their income and assets which shows that they are unable to meet the cost of the fees themselves and have no substantial savings (the current amount of savings allowed to be retained is £13,706 for a single person).
Reciprocal health agreements do not cover funding for care home fees. Funding for residential care fees is not linked to the payment of Social Security contributions. This is a non-contributory tax funded benefit and data on care costs cannot be analysed in terms of an individual's contribution record. The Social Security Department will however be bringing forward a system in the near future for the funding of long-term care which will only be available to those with substantial residence in Jersey and accompanying Social Security contributions.