Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will review the earnings and capital thresholds for disabled adults in receipt of social care support to ensure they are not disadvantaged when saving for (a) a house deposit and (b) other major life expenses.

The current capital thresholds, namely the lower limit of £14,250 and the upper limit of £23,250, ensure that individuals have a minimum amount of capital protected.

Where an individual is receiving care in their own home, charging should not reduce an individual’s income below the Minimum Income Guarantee. For those receiving care in a residential setting, residents must retain an allowance for personal expenses. Additionally, people must retain enough of their disability related benefits for any disability-related expenditure they incur.

The capital limits and the social care allowance rates are communicated annually, and the rates for the financial year 2025/26 will be published in the Local Authority Circular in February 2025.

We have announced an independent commission into adult social care to build consensus on what adult social care should achieve, address systemic challenges comprehensively, and chart a clear path toward practical and impactful reform.