The proposals unveiled by Prime Minister Gordon Brown at the 2009 Labour Party conference have already been criticised as underfunded by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS).

It suggested a minimum £330m shortfall between the Government estimates and the real demands on the system – which councils would have to bear, more than doubling the projected £250m costs to local authorities.

Now the Association of South East Strategic Leaders and South East Councils Adult Social Care (SECAS) has predicted that the cost to authorities in that region alone would be £100m a year.

Because of its wealth, the region has been widely predicted to be hit particularly hard by the Personal Care at Home Bill.

The offer of non-means tested support to live at home could prompt huge numbers of residents in need of care – but previously paying for it themselves or going without – to come forward.

ADASS calculates the average cost of providing the domiciliary care people would be entitled to at around £200 per week.

Keith Glazier (Con), chairman of SECAS,  said predictions of a £20m pricetag for the bill at Hampshire CC and up to £34m at Kent CC were a huge warning sign.

 “If these costs were repeated across the region, South East council tax payers are likely to face a bill in excess of £100m” he said.

“If the Government really want to help older people to live at home, ministers must guarantee that it will fully fund the cost of free personal care, however much that turns out to be, otherwise south east councils will need to cut services elsewhere to fund the shortfall.”

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