To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has plans to (a) introduce a zero social care cap for people under 40, (b) raise the minimum income guarantee in the social care means test or (c) abolish social care charges.

There are no plans to introduce a zero social care cap for people aged under 40 years old or to abolish social care charges. The level of the minimum income guarantee is reviewed on an annual basis and it was increased on 6 April 2022 in line with inflation. The revised rates are set out in The Care and Support (Charging and Assessment of Resources) (Amendment) Regulations 2022.

From October 2023, the Government is introducing a cap on care costs and more generous means testing limits to allow more people to receive financial support with the cost of their care. The £86,000 cap on personal care costs is universal, regardless of an individual’s age, region or wealth. This will ensure that no-one will face unpredictable or unlimited care costs.