Newham admin backlog leaves older residents waiting for care bills

Vulnerable older people are apparently being billed for their care up to six months late because social services is so far behind on its paperwork.
Residents in care homes, sheltered accommodation, or receiving help from carers at home, are often asked to pay a contribution towards their support services.

But many are having to budget months in advance because their bills are not arriving on time.

A spokesperson for Newham Council said a computer system upgrade is currently being introduced and apologises to residents whose invoices are delayed.

Kris Sangari’s 74-year-old close relative, who suffers from dementia and does not wish to be named, has been living in sheltered accommodation at Amber Court, in High Street, Stratford since February 18.

Kris claims he has put around £90 aside every week, awaiting an invoice from the Council, because it eventually arrived in mid-July.

If Kris had not saved, his elderly relative would have been just over £2,000 in arrears.

Kris said he called social services to ask why the bill was delayed and he was told the department was trying to catch up on a backlog of admin.

He added: “Other people in the block are in the same position.

“I am a fairly together, organised person and I handle my relative’s affairs and we were expecting these payments.

“But that’s not to say everyone can.

“What position does this put those people in who are in a less stable situation?

“It just seems like a very inefficient way to run a system of care.”

A Council spokesperson said: “We are working hard to make sure residents at Amber Court who contribute towards the cost of the care support services they receive are able to do so as efficiently as possible.

“New systems are being introduced to help ensure customers can manage the cost of their care better.

“We are sorry if in the meantime we are not getting invoices to people as quickly as we would like.

“The situation is improving and we are working on getting invoices out every four weeks.

“Customers who may be experiencing problems with paying for their care can contact our charging team on 020 3373 1184 so that the appropriate assistance and advice can be given.”