Town hall bosses have pledged to work with ministers over plans to create a social care funding cap.

The president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), Sandie Keene, has pledged to work in partnership with the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Department of Health (DH) over proposals published today to establish a £72,000 limit on eligible care costs.

‘We are committed to working in partnership with the DH and LGA on a joint programme to ensure the successful and sustainable delivery of these reforms.

‘At a time of great financial challenge in local government, we simply can't afford to miscalculate the costs of these moves,' she added. ‘The proposals do not mean any additional money will be coming into social care. But they do mean that social services departments will be better placed to offer security and peace of mind to a greater number of people.'

The proposals published by the Department of Health include a cap of £72,000, with additional help for people with less than £118,000 in assets and a scheme to prevent anyone having to sell their home in their lifetime.

A not-for-profit ‘deferred payment' scheme is also included in the plans, where a local authority will pay for someone's residential care and the person is able to repay the council from their estate.

‘No one wants to face an unknown future,' said care minister Norman Lamb. ‘This overhaul of the way care is paid for gives people the certainty and peace of mind we all deserve.'