SPECIAL needs adults living in social services housing say they are becoming prisoners in their own homes after a dramatic increase in charges left them unable to afford to lead normal lives anymore.

The people living in 'network houses', some of whom have carers visiting for a number of hours per week, others who have 24-hour care, each pay a service charge to the social services department to help fund their carers.

But this has been dramatically increased and those affected say they were not consulted. In one case, a service charge of £20 rose to £71.97, which, after household bills had been paid, left the man with only £15 for himself. Benefits have not gone up and the peoples' care has not changed.

Those affected claim they have been left with too little money to live a normal life. One man even says he has been forced to give up voluntary work because he cannot afford to pay his transport costs.

"These are young people living in the community," said one carer.

"But they can't participate in the community because they can't afford it. They are becoming prisoners in their own homes."

Another man said: "We can't see that this is linked to any inflationary rise, it's as though they are deciding what they think a person can live on and taking the rest.

"But it's as though it has been brought in by stealth. The charges were discussed at a meeting 18 months ago and people agreed it should be looked at and increased gradually - then nothing was said until the invoices went out."

But social services chiefs say more consultation was done than normal.

Helen Sumner, assistant director for special needs and disabilities, said: "Eighteen months ago social services had a review of its charges in the light of budget constraints.

"It went through normal consultation with organisations such as Mencap, CVS and the carers' centre, then through the committee process. Members said that because the proposals affected people with learning difficulties, they shouldn't be implemented straight away so more consultation took place.

"People felt this was a fair method of charging and that it did bring people in line with others on benefits, in other words, they had the same amounts in their pockets.

"If anyone feels they have a problem, they can ask for a reassesment and if they do have any exceptional needs we will take this into account."