Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is reported to be preparing to delay the introduction of a £86,000 cap on care costs by at least a year.

The Times reported the chancellor was said to be “minded to delay a year” the reform from the planned start date of October 2023.

Under the new system, which was announced in September 2021, anyone with assets below £20,000 will not have to pay towards their care while those with greater assets will contribute up to a maximum of £86,000, ending the current situation where individuals can face unlimited costs.

Professor Martin Green OBE, chief executive of Care England, told Caring Times: “Any delay to social care reforms is going to be a significant challenge for the care sector. What we need is the delivery of the reform agenda and enough money to pay the true cost of care. The government now has clear data on the cost of care now they must fund it. Politicians must understand that when they meet commitments, we expect them to deliver on them.”

Nadra Ahmed OBE, chair of the National Care Association and Care Provider Alliance, said: “It is hugely disappointing that the chancellor is reported as considering postponing the reform. It appears memories are short in politics! Our sector is an easy target to ignore but in doing so the impact on vulnerable people we care for and indeed the NHS will be the unintended consequence. 

“A huge amount of data has been collected to enable sustainable reform so it will interesting to understand on what basis the chancellor would feel a delay can be acceptable. Providers are now under extreme pressure and cannot hold off for another delay. The promises of the prime minister to social care cannot be part of any U-turn.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Our charging reforms are vital to protect people from unpredictable social care costs, and we are working with local authorities, care providers and other stakeholders – including the Local Government Association – to implement them.

“We are backing the sector with £5.4 billion over the next three years to support our planned reforms, and we’ve also made £500 million of extra funding available for social care this winter to speed up the safe discharge of patients from hospital and to recruit and retain more care workers.”

The chancellor is to make announcement on future spending plans in his Medium Term Fiscal Plan on 31 October.