Councils Pursue 2,000 Indebted Home Care Recipients with Legal Action Since 2023
More than 2,000 people across England have faced legal action from their local council after the cost of care visits drove them into debt. The number of such legal proceedings, or threats thereof, is understood to have doubled in recent years, with over 60,000 individuals reportedly falling behind on payments in 2022.
Councils report a significant increase in home care provision costs, with some experiencing a 50% rise over the last three years. These escalating costs are increasingly passed on to disabled people, leading to substantial financial burdens.
Oldham Resident Faces Legal Action Over Surging Fees
Ahsan Razzaq, a 36-year-old from Oldham, saw his monthly home care fees escalate from approximately GBP#42 to over GBP#500 in 2023. Unable to meet these revised charges, he was issued a court judgment ordering him to pay more than GBP#15,000. Mr. Razzaq, who requires extensive care following a 2013 car crash, stated the debt profoundly affects his health and well-being. His solicitor is currently contesting the judgment, citing a lack of justification for the drastic fee increase.
Oldham Council, which has seen its home care spending pressures increase by around 51% in three years, stated it resorts to legal action only when other attempts to recover arrears have failed. The council anticipates spending GBP#51 million on the service this year, with client contributions amounting to just over GBP#8 million.
Widespread Legal Enforcement and Campaigner Concerns
Data indicates that 45 of 58 responding councils have initiated legal action against home care debtors since 2023, totalling 2,163 cases. Cheshire West and Chester Council reported the highest number of court proceedings, with 110 cases, followed by Blackpool Council with 83. These authorities maintain that legal action is a 'last resort'.
Disability campaigners assert that the current situation represents a profound crisis in home care funding. Rick Burgess of the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People noted that the
