Council leaders have urged the Government to delay the social care reforms by one year over fears they will lead to nearly 200,000 extra care assessments.

From October 2023, the Government is introducing a more generous means-test and a cap on care costs of £86,000.

However, the County Councils' Network (CCN), urged the Government to postpone the changes until October 2024.

The network warned the reforms would lead to a ‘mountain' of extra Care Act and financial assessments each year just as adult social care services in England are to face £3.7bn in additional costs over the next 18 months due to rising inflation and demand. 

If the reforms go ahead in October 2023, the network has estimated there will be an extra 197,000 assessments each year, which is a 45% increase on current levels, rising to 64% in county and rural areas.

Adult social care spokesperson for CCN, Martin Tett, said: ‘Councils face a mountain of extra assessments that will be impossible to deliver because of current capacity and financial issues in local government.

‘Loading these reforms onto a system that is already in crisis could worsen care services by the time these reforms are introduced.

'Newly-eligible people next October could face substantial waits for a care assessment while the quality of care for those already provided for could worsen as councils struggle with the extra demand amidst rising costs.

‘Councils remain committed to supporting these reforms, but it is imperative councils have the time to mitigate the pressures they will create, recruit a sufficient number of staff and stabilise services in the short-term.

'If not, these reforms could be unworkable at inception.'