Mum’s concern over East Renfrewshire Council social care charges

Families had the opportunity to voice their concerns at a consultation event on Monday 25 November, with frustrations raised about how these changes will affect “the most vulnerable people”.

A council official said responses from the consultation will feed into an equality, fairness and rights impact assessment, which will be presented to councillors before they make a decision.

This assessment of the policy, which was carried out by health chiefs, stated people will “only be asked to contribute what they can afford” and fees can be “waived altogether if the charge would put someone into financial hardship”.

“It is highly unlikely that anyone experiencing socio-economic disadvantage will meet the threshold to be charged,” it said.

East Renfrewshire HSCP is the only HSCP in Greater Glasgow and Clyde that does not currently charge for these services, the report said.

However, the assessment also said elderly people have already been affected by the changes to the winter fuel allowance and cost-of-living crisis.

It added there is a “potential negative impact on the demands of unpaid carers”, both financially and through additional stress.