Today I received a letter from our Local Lib Dem Councillors and MP Paul Burstow. It is entitled "The Lib Dems are delivering a fair deal for pensioners."

Whilst accepting that this is political propaganda, I take great exception to the fact that it contains what is tantamount to a lie.

It says: "When he was a Minister, your local MP Paul Burstow put these priorities forward on the national stage, and made sure that people will no longer have to sell their homes to pay for care."

I apologise for the poor punctuation but I am quoting.

This statement is not true, even the Deputy Prime Minister (Lib Dem Nick Clegg) qualified his statement to the media at the time with the words "...during their lifetime".

Those of us with property valued at more than £100,000, should we require residential care, will be liable for the full cost (less any State contribution for personal social care if our needs are assessed as critical enough up to a life time total of £72,000).

But the actual payment may be deferred until after our demise. 

So, if this is you, you may not have to sell your home (so I suppose that's what they might say makes their statement not, in fact, a lie) but your estate (your heirs and successors) will need to pay the debt you have incurred during those last years of your life.

Almost a decade ago when my mother needed residential care within a few months of my father's death, for a placement that was anything like the quality one would wish for oneself, the cost was in excess of £800 per week.

Yes - per week.

Imagine what it might be now: £1,000 a week, £1,200 a week?

Yvonne Bailey, via email

What do you think? Leave your comments, email letters@suttonguadian.co.uk or use our online letter form.

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