The Labour party have conducted a survey using the freedom of information act, which reveals that there has been a sharp increase in the fees for local council services for the disabled and elderly.
Labour suggests that some of the increases have become a stealth tax, as there are big variations in the charges in different parts of the country.
Data has been collated from 93 of the 153 local councils in England. Amongst the services that have increased in price are meals on wheels, which has increased by 13% over the past two years and transport by 33%
The coalition have responded by saying that local councils were responsible for all non-residential care and that the charges applied should be affordable to those who need them.
Liz Kendall, the Shadow Health Minister, said that services were a “lifeline” for many people and rises in non-residential care for the elderly and disabled were “a stealth tax on the most vulnerable in society”.
“The government is out-of-touch with the growing crisis in care. Their brutal cuts to funding for local council services are pushing up charges and placing an even greater burden on the people who most need help,” she said.
Currently more than half a million people in England receive home help from their local councils. Those with savings of under £13,000 qualify for free non-residential care, but all other must pay for the services.
The average charge for home care to help with washing and dressing is now £13.49, an increase of 6% over the last two years. This works out at over £7,000 a year for someone who needed 10 hours assistance each week.
The report also highlights the regional differences in charges by local authorities. For instance, Tower Hamlets borough in London provides free personal care for residents but in Cheshire East the service costs over £20 an hour.
Meals on Wheels fees have also increased sharply going up 13% in the same time period, a typical meal now costs £3.44. Transport costs to ferry people to day centres and other places has gone up by 33% to an average of £2.32 a journey.
Some local authority have a cap on the weekly limit that they expect residents to pay, but there are huge variations; those living in Hackney have a cap of £105 a week, compared to £900 a week in Brighton.
However, many councils have also squeezed these caps, with 40% of councils increasing the caps and another 40% actually abolishing limits.
The report comes as cross-party talks about social care are due to be held in the new year, with ministers stating that they wish to implement plans for changing the current means-tested system.
