Council takes OAP’s £10k in care blunder

Social workers have been criticised for using £10,000 of a pensioner’s savings to pay for personal care which should have been funded by Edinburgh City Council.

An internal investigation found social workers failed to tell the woman to stop paying for her own care when her savings had fallen to the threshold of £14,500.

Instead, the costs of her care home continued to be met from her savings until she was left with just £4500 in the bank.

The council’s social work complaints review committee has now recommended the pensioner, identified only as Mrs X, is paid back the money.

Rod Alexander, who chaired the committee hearing, said the council has failed to provide a proper duty of care to Mrs X.

The council’s health, social care and housing committee is expected to accept the recommendations of the inquiry tomorrow.