SOME people in Somerset who are carers for loved ones may soon have to pay more if they want to take a break.

Somerset County Council is consulting on its plans to stop subsidising its ‘sitting service’, which provides trained staff to stand in for carers so they can have some respite from looking after their friend or relative.

Under the current subsidy, nobody pays more than £6.10 for the service, with the county council picking up the rest of the cost.

Now, though, the council is proposing to remove the subsidy, and ask people with savings of more than £23,250 (or double that for couples) to pay the full cost of the service – which is around £16 an hour.

Those with fewer savings will face a financial assessment to see if they can afford to pay anything.

The council estimates around a quarter of carers who use the service will pay the full cost if the change goes through, and most won’t pay any extra.

Cllr William Wallace, cabinet member for adult social care at Somerset County Council, said: “Our on-going financial challenges mean we are continuing to face extraordinarily difficult decisions about how we spend the money we have to support people.

 “This means we are being forced to consider every avenue by which savings could be made.”

The consultation begins today and runs until November 12.

To take part, follow this link or call 01823-357995.