Adult social care explained – how it works and what would reform cost?

Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAdult social care in England is not free at the point of use, unlike NHS care, with individuals needing to fund their own care if their savings exceed £23,250, often leading to asset sales. England's adult social care system is considered one of the least generous globally and within the UK, as most other countries and devolved nations offer some level of universal entitlement or more lenient financial thresholds. Public awareness of how social care is funded is low, with many mistakenly believing it is free or primarily provided by the NHS, despite the sector's £28.7 billion expenditure in 2024/25. The system faces significant demand and unmet needs, with 889,000 people receiving publicly funded long-term care in the year to March 2025, but 408,985 awaiting assessments and an estimated 1.9 million older people having unmet needs. The sector is plagued by workforce shortages, with approximately 96,000 vacancies daily, a rate three times higher than the wider economy, despite a recent decrease in the vacancy rate to a decade low. In fullHow does adult social care in England work? The system explained as Andy Burnham promises to deliver ‘urgent’ reformsMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

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