A COUPLE fear financial hardship after they found out they will have to start shelling out more than £200 a month for social services to visit their home.

Barry and Sandra Awkin, of Ash Close, Edgware, were recently told by Barnet council they will have to start paying £204 a month for a carer from Independent Living to visit them.

Mrs Awkin has brittle bone disease, and currently has a carer visit three times a week, for up to 14 hours, paid for by the authority.

The carer gives her husband the chance to have a rest from looking after her full time, and allows him to do the food shopping and other jobs.

The couple, who have lived in Edgware for 19 years, fear they will be unable to afford the cost, as they will have to pay it using Mrs Awkin’s medical pension, for which she receives £300 a month, which covers the household bills.

Mrs Awkin, who worked in hospital administration before she stopped working in 1981, due to her condition, said: “We could not manage without the independent living. I have always thought Barnet was the best borough, but I do not think it is fair. Barry gave his job up to be my full time carer. He loved his job but had to give it up.

“My medical pension pays for everything. We are very worried about it. We were living nicely, and we could cope.”

Mrs Awkin, who has been in a wheelchair for 23 years, added: “Barry does everything for me. I could not get up in the morning without him. He needs to still do things, like go food shopping and go to the doctor’s. It also gives him a break.”

Mr Awkin, who gave up his job as a bank messenger in 1989, said the independent living service was “marvellous”, but the new charge was “steep”.

He added: “£50 a week, and it is coming from Sandra’s account. We pay the bills normally with it. Anyone having care has to pay for it, but £50 a week is pretty high. I thought that is steep.”

A spokesman for Barnet council said: “It would not be appropriate for us to comment on the details of a person’s care package.

“Any financial contribution a resident makes to the cost of their care is based on a full financial assessment which takes into account any income, outgoings and savings a person may have.

“Every year a person’s contribution is reassessed to take into account any changes in circumstances.

“If a resident feels the level of their contribution may not be correct we will always look into this again to ensure it is accurate. We are currently in touch with Mrs Awkin about her changed level of contribution.”