A FORMER teacher, who is now virtually wheelchair-bound, has claimed that he faces destitution after his home care charges rose from £16 to over £200 a month under Fife Council's controversial new charging policy.
Sixty-three year-old Iain Miles, of High Street, Auchtermuchty, was forced to retire from his post at Bell Baxter High School, Cupar, after he developed multiple health problems, and now faces having at least one leg amputated.
He says he needs al
ot of help from home care staff but that his modest income isn't enough to cover the increased costs.
Mr Miles, who lost his wife Citty Finlayson to cancer three years ago, receives benefits as well as an occupational pension from the council, and needs what spare cash he has to run his car which is his only means of independence.
He says he was 'flabbergasted' when the bill from Fife Council dropped through his letter box.
He declared: "I am beside myself with worry because I know that, with every week that goes by, I'm accruing arrears that I can't pay.
''At first I thought that the only option for me was to give up my services but I've been persuaded that this is what the council wants. There's no way I can afford to pay this.
''I am incensed by the way the council is treating me. They can do what they like with me but, at the end of the day, they can't get blood out of a stone.
"I have contributed to society for many years, particularly in the education of young people. As well as being struck down with poor health I feel I am being dealt a double blow by this council who will see me destitute."
Under the new arrangements, charges for home care have risen from £4 a week to up to £11 an hour, and charges have been introduced for shopping deliveries and community alarms, both of which were previously free.
The policy is vigorously opposed by the pressure group Campaign Against Charges, who say that it is 'illegal and immoral.'
They have described Mr Miles' plight as 'obscene' and claim that, now that the bills are beginning to arrive, people all over Fife will face similar difficulties.
But the council continues to defend the increases and insists that only those who can afford to do so will be asked to contribute towards the cost of their care.
Social work boss Stephen Moore said: "Mr Miles' needs were assessed by social work staff in April and this was followed by the completion of a financial assessment in August.
"Mr Miles has been assessed as requiring to contribute £46.99 per week towards his care costs, based on the information he provided about his disposable income. The disposable income figure we have used to calculate the care charges takes into account all of his income from pensions and the care element of disability living allowance, as well as living costs such as mortgage and council tax.
"Officers of the Social Work Service would be available to discuss the details of the assessment process with Mr Miles if he wishes this and he will not be left at risk or without a home care service.
"We think it only fair that those who can afford to pay do.
''The money raised from charging goes straight back into frontline priority services targeted at the most vulnerable in our communities."
