Personal Expenses Allowance
The Personal Expenses Allowance (PEA) is the minimum weekly amount that a care home resident should be left with after a local authority makes the necessary deductions from their income for their share of the cost. When an older person moves into a care home, all of their income (including their pension) and capital are means tested to calculate how much they should pay towards the cost of their care home accommodation.
Due to the low level of the Personal Expenses Allowance, many older people in care homes have to make hard choices about everyday items that most other people take for granted.
Petition
Age Concern Scotland has presented a petition to the Scottish Parliament calling for the Scottish Government to instigate a review of the current level of the Personal Expenses Allowance and to assess whether or not it provides a level of income for care home residents that is appropraie to their needs and aspirations. If such a review suggests that an increase is necessary, then the Scottish Government should set the PEA at a level which will ensure an acceptable quality of life for Scotland's most vulnerable older people.