From October 2023, anyone assessed by a local authority as having eligible care and support needs, either new entrants or existing social care users, will begin to progress towards the cap. Costs accrued before this date will not count towards the cap. To enable this, the local authority in whose area the person is ordinarily resident will start a care account, which is personalised to the individual and will monitor their progress towards the cap. Before the cap comes into effect, local authorities need to work to identify people who currently meet their eligible needs themselves, to ensure that they can begin progressing towards the cap from the point it comes into effect.
The government intends to test the implementation of these charging reforms with a small group of volunteer local authorities that will implement the reforms in advance of the national roll-out.