THE Conservatives are planning a major overhaul of adult social care funding and the winter fuel allowance if they are returned to power in the General Election - but the move unveiled in the party’s manifesto has infuriated Southend Council’s Tory leader John Lamb.

Mr Lamb said: “These people have worked all their lives to build up their assets. They are now saying ‘we won’t take your home while you’re alive but we’ll take it from you when you are dead’.

“Adult social care is going to be a big burden and we need more money but not by hitting pensioners’ families, especially when we are sending aid to other countries to help fund their space and arms programmes.”

Mr Lamb also criticised proposed changes to the winter fuel allowance, adding: “They are saying ‘turn your heating off and you’ll die quicker then we can take your home.

“It’s totally wrong and I will be making very strong representations to my own group and lobbying MPs.

“I am against any reduction in the winter fuel allowance unless someone is earning more than £80,000 to £90,000 gross a year.

“Pensioners have no control over fuel and energy prices.

“They still have a lot to pay out .

“I think pensioners will just switch off the heating.

“It’s something pensioners shouldn’t have to be worrying about. As you get older you feel the cold more.”

Launching their manifesto, the Conservatives say no one will have to sell their home to pay for care costs in their lifetime while a person’s assets would not be allowed to dip below £100,000 as a result of paying for care.

This is an increase from the current £23,250 level in England and is designed to allow elderly people to retain more of their wealth or pass it on to relatives.

More people are also expected to be required to pay for care in their own home. This is due to the proposal to include the value of someone’s property in the test to assess how much someone should pay for domiciliary care in their own home.

Wealthy pensioners will lose up to £300 in winter fuel payments

Councils across the country have struggled to cope with successive funding cuts for social care, leaving hospitals struggling to discharge patients into the community because there is no suitable accommodation for them.