PENSIONERS face having to move into cheaper care homes under council cost cutting plans.

Buckinghamshire County Council will only pay for care which it considers will ‘meet the assessed eligible needs of the individual’.

It pays for homes when an OAP’s assets fall below £23,500.

But pensioners have recently been able to decide how to spend council cash on their care – and bosses say some are choosing homes that are too expensive.

The Conservative-run council acknowledged the move would lead to ‘stress’ for pensioners who have to move between homes.

Yet it warned of ‘inconsistency in the resources allocated to meet similar needs’ as OAPs are spending on homes ‘above the rate’ used by BCC.

It has agreed to give cash ‘in the most cost effective manner’ and said the problem was heightened by an ageing population.

Pensioners will be asked to find the difference by a ‘third party’ and, if that fails, BCC will move them ‘to a placement where their assessed eligible needs can be met at a lower cost’.

It accepted the move could have a damaging affect on some OAPs.

The report said: “There are risks to individuals who are moved between residential placements as a result of a change in environment and staff.

“We will work hard with clients and their families so that the move is made as stress free as possible and the skills and experience so social workers will be used to hep with this.

“The managers and staff of the new home will be required to work with us to use their expertise to help the clients settle into their new home.”

The council says this will make ‘significant’ contribution to a £624,000 social services savings target.

Cllr Mary Baldwin, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition, said: “It is not the right thing to do but I suspect it is the only thing they can do. It is a national issue.”

The authority moved to slash £9.2m from its budget last month, with most of it coming from services for vulnerable groups such as looked after children.

Ten out of 51 speed cameras will be switched off to save cash – but cash will be boosted for road repairs.

The council is making hundreds of staff redundant to save millions more amid a squeeze on public spending by the coalition Government.

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