Pensioners to pay for home alarms

Around 2,000 elderly people living in Staffordshire currently benefit from free usage of the alarms which older people can use to request help if they fall over or have an accident in their own home.

But earlier this month Staffordshire County Council announced it was slashing funding for the service, run by Cannock Chase Council, in a bid to save £214,000 from its budget.

Bosses at the district council have stepped in to fund a scaled down version but it has emerged service users will now have to meet certain criteria to be entitled to use the alarms for free.

If they don't meet the criteria, they will have to pay out up £86 a year. It has not been revealed how many pensioners in Cannock will be told to find the cash.

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Councillor Muriel Davis, Cannock Chase Council's health and wellbeing chief, said today: "We disagree fundamentally with Staffordshire County Council's decision to remove funding for social alarms.

"These vital services make it possible for very vulnerable people to retain independence in the community. I am also concerned that the county council has chosen not to conduct any public consultation on these difficult issues.

"This is why cabinet has decided to do everything possible to overcome the real difficulties this cut in funding will cause.

"Our plans will mean that the most vulnerable people will continue to receive a social alarms service for free funded by Cannock Chase Council."

But she added: "Unfortunately, we're not in a position to be able to help everyone and some people who currently receive the service for free will not in the future. The funding cut of £214,000 is just too large for Cannock Chase Council to cover in its entirety."

The criteria to qualify for free usage includes being over the age of 70 or in receipt of a disability related benefit.

Staffordshire County Council is slashing £6 million from is Supporting People Grant, despite huge criticism.

The fund, created in 2003, is used to provide housing-based support to groups, including those with mental health problems and the elderly.

Bosses at Cannock Chase Council called the decision 'disgusting'.

The County Council is having to make £102m cuts from its budget over the next five years.

As part of the cuts, 24 of the 43 libraries across the county would be taken over by volunteers to save £1.3 million over the next three years. Youth clubs also face the axe.