Pledge to end elderly care lottery Councils assess the needs of frail, elderly and disabled adults as being either "critical," "substantial," "moderate," or "low" when allocating funding for care homes, day centres, home-help, and house adaptations. Most councils limit their means-tested support to people with "substantial" care needs but some are considering restricting funding to a new so-called "supercritical" category. However, a new national system, to be introduced from 2015, will set out for the first time the minimum threshold at which individuals would be entitled to state help across the country. Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary, said the current fragmented system was "confusing and unclear." "No one should fear moving house or areas because they are worried that they will lose out on vital care and support," he said. By bringing in measures to ensure continuity of care when people move, they will no longer feel trapped. By introducing a minimum eligibility threshold people will have a much clearer picture of what to expect and not see access to care vary depending on where they live. There are concerns that setting a national threshold could encourage all councils to adopt the minimum level of support. Officials insisted that councils would be "free to set it at a more generous level" and said ministers would order councils not to tighten their eligibility thresholds further between now and 2015, when the new system comes into force. Several councils have been challenged in the courts in recent months over their plans to cut back on care services. Local authority leaders and charities say councils are being starved of funds and cannot afford to maintain services for increasing numbers of elderly and disabled people. Under the white paper plans, councils would to provide care and support to people as soon as they move into the area, rather than being forced to wait for a new assessment. Councils will have to share information about individuals" disabilities and the care they need to ensure that moving home is "seamless." On Saturday, The Daily Telegraph disclosed that ministers would commit in principle to capping the maximum amount individuals would pay for their own care during their lifetimes, but had not agreed how to fund the reforms. Cross-party talks between Labour and the Coalition, aimed at reaching a consensus on funding social care, have broken down. Dr Ros Altmann, director-general of Saga, the over-50s group, said the government's promises were "empty" without more money. With an ageing population, the state obviously has to spend more on care," she said. It's not acceptable to use the fiscal deficit as an excuse.