The postcode lottery system will be ended and ministers have stated that they will pledge to end this scandalous system as it sees thousands of vulnerable pensioners denied vital services such as home help.

Across England there are about 152 different systems and this is because the councils are allowed to set their own eligibility thresholds for social care.

The opportunity to limit free care has been taken by over 80 per cent of local authorities and this includes meals on wheels, home helps and installing stair lifts and these services are given to people whose needs are deemed `substantial' or greater.

A national minimum eligibility threshold for access to free care by 2015 will be introduced as ministers pledge to do so later this week.

This will lead to elderly getting an access to the same services at whichever place they stay at. When it comes to the level of the threshold, no decision has been taken yet.

At the moment in the UK, about 300,000 pensioners are in receipt of help from councils. Staff decides if their needs are `critical', `substantial', `moderate' or `low', and depending on this town halls decide each year which groups are eligible for free help.