How the cap on care costs works

I saw this article on BBC news and thought it relevant   How does the system work currently? Social care is means-tested, which means only the poorest get state help towards their costs. Currently anyone with assets of over £23,250 has to pay the full cost of their care. If you are being cared for in your own home, that figure only takes into account any savings, stocks or shares you have. If you are moving into a care home the value of your home may be taken into account, depending on your circumstances. The costs people face, therefore, can run into thousands of pounds. One in 10 who enter the care system end up paying over £100,000 in fees. About 4m older people – nearly half the over 65 population – have care needs. But only 850,000 qualify for state help. Some 370,000 of these are getting help in their home and nearly 240,000 in care homes or nursing homes. The rest get help from other services, such as day care, meals on wheels, or via home adaptations and equipments. Once those who fund themselves are taken into account, the numbers getting help in their own home rises to about 850,000 and in care and nursing homes to about 450,000. Another 1.5m are reported to be relying on family and friends to provide support. So how will the cap work? From April 2016 the amount you pay for care if you are over 65 is being capped at £72,000. To be eligible, you first need to be assessed by your council as having very high needs. Whether care...