VULNERABLE adults and pensioners receiving council-funded social care in Essex are topping up their support, figures reveal.

Charity Age UK has warned older people are seeing their savings swallowed up by a care system “way past its sell-by date”.

In an annual survey of adult social care users for 2018-19, 39 per cent of respondents in Essex said they or their family pay for additional private care, or pay more to the council to top up the care they receive.

This was the highest rate recorded since the survey began in 2010-11, when 36 per cent said they paid extra.

Caroline Abrahams, director of Age UK, said: “Too many older people and families are already struggling without the care they need, or watching with absolute horror as their lifetime savings disappear to fund sky-high care bills.

“We know older people and their families are living in fear they will be unable to keep up with the payments.

“With a care system under siege, this is a problem that needs solving.”

Simon Prestney, chief executive of Age Concern Colchester, revealed the charity helped to award £1.3 million of benefit entitlements to

pensioners, supporting 883 cases.

This figure is set to rise this year, with the charity now covering the Tendring district.

Mr Prestney said: “This year we are tracking towards £1.8 million to £2 million as we now cover Tendring too.

“We had managed 559 cases already this year at the seven month point.

“We work closely with Colchester and Tendring councils and multiple different agencies to improve the life of those in later years.

“There is high pressure on the existing system and we are in discussions with partners about developing a more cohesive approach.”

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care recognised there is “crisis” in social care.

He said: “We know the system is under pressure and we have given local authorities an extra £1.5 billion next year to meet rising demand and stabilise the social care system.

“We are determined to fix the crisis in social care and will set out our proposals in due course.”

To get in touch with Age UK Colchester call 01206 368420 or visit its headquarters on North Hill.