Councils Sue Thousands for Care Debts

A BBC investigation uncovers a surge in legal actions against individuals in England for unpaid home care debts, with over two thousand cases since 2023. Ahsan Razzaq, a disabled man from Oldham, faces a £15,000 debt due to increased care costs. Councils like Oldham claim they only resort to court after exhausting other options, but data suggests a recent doubling of legal threats. The Care Act of 2014 allows councils to raise fees based on costs and personal finances, but Ahsans family denies any changes. The stress of debt is taking a toll on Ahsans mental health, and disability groups label it a funding crisis. Freedom of Information requests reveal forty-five councils with over two thousand cases, including hundreds of default judgments. The government responds with new funding and increased minimum income guarantees, but the system remains broken, leaving vulnerable individuals like Ahsan in debt spirals.

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