My husband and I have worked tirelessly throughout our lives, diligently saving to ensure a comfortable and secure future. However, we now find ourselves in a situation where the financial burden of residential home care fees is depleting our hard-earned savings. Not only are our pensions targeted, but even our private pension plans with income releases are counted in financial assessments. This essentially penalizes us for our careful financial planning and saving.

In the UK, an individual's property valuation is also considered in these assessments, stripping families of the homes they have worked so hard to own. It seems unjust that those who have saved and planned responsibly are punished, while those who have not are covered fully by the system. This creates a lack of incentive to save or invest in pensions, knowing it could all simply be taken away.

The current system is fundamentally flawed and inherently unfair. It forces families who have contributed greatly to society through taxes and labor, to endure financial hardships at a time when they should be focusing on their health and well-being.

We urge policymakers to recalibrate the financial assessment criteria for residential home care. Consider alternative solutions that protect the savings and property of diligent citizens. Implement a cap on fees that respects the financial integrity of those assessed. Facilitate a fairer system where individuals are not punished for financial preparedness.

It is time to address these inequities and create a system that rewards, rather than penalizes, individuals who have responsibly planned for their later years. Please sign this petition to call for a reevaluation of the residential home care fee structure and work towards a fairer, more equitable approach. Let’s protect our future and the future of our loved ones.