“It is disappointing to see that the Government has missed another opportunity to address the care funding crisis.   Too many people are unsure of what they can expect from the State and what they will be expected to cover themselves which is leading to “planning paralysis”.

“With 17% of the population aged 65 and over*, a clear set of guidelines needs to be developed that allows people to make these important decisions.  The Financial Services industry is eager to engage in the debate and help people to find ways to meet social care costs, but without a definite framework and plan for the future this will continue to be difficult.

“We hope that the Government looks to address this issue as soon as possible.”