The Sunday Times offers an overview of the Wanless proposals in You care for the old: the taxman doesn't. The financial suggestions do not strike me as implementable or effective but it is useful to see some proposals that address the financial inequities of being a carer.
Abolishing inheritance tax on legacies to family carers would be an obvious start; in that way the family home would indeed pay for the care of the old, within the family. Giving long tax holidays to family carers would be another sensible move. So would paying cash to those carers for whom a tax holiday would be insignificant. Tax relief would help foster family responsibility, but the current financial incentives are to neglect the old, consigning them to abuse.
tonyplant
April 2, 2006 - 12:46Tony Happystance
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