London Councils has warned authorities in the capital face an adult social care funding shortfall of £877m ahead of a debate in the House of Lords today.

A report published by London Councils warns that the capital's local authorities face additional costs of £877 million by 2019/20 in order to deliver the proposed changes to adult social care funding contained in the Care Bill.

The cost across England is likely to be around £6 billion.

The figure is estimated as a result of councils stepping in when a lifetime limit on care costs of £72,000 is reached, along with a rise in the means testing threshold from £23,250 currently to £118,000 in April 2016.

Cllr Ravi Govindia, London Councils' executive member for adult services, said: ‘London Councils supports the government's push for longer, independent and healthier lives. It is reassuring for people who pay for care to have a limit on some of the costs.

'While we support the Bill, we are concerned that councils will have to pick up the tab if it goes ahead as planned without first taking into account London's circumstances, particularly the high cost of residential care.'

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: ‘Last month, the Spending Review settlement included £335m for local government to meet the extra costs of bringing in the reforms to care and support in 2015/16. 

‘Local authorities are, of course, best placed to determine how to meet the needs of their communities and to carry out their legal duties. 

‘In the meantime, we are also working with academics to investigate how to allocate funding to local authorities taking into account our reforms.'