Social care finances

Our work on social care funding, budgets and finance

A fork in the road: next steps for social care funding reform

This report published jointly with the Health Foundation pulls together new financial modelling, public perceptions work and policy analysis to identify the problems with adult social care in England and outline options for its reform.

Health care funding models

Approaches to social care funding

It is widely accepted that the system for funding social care is in urgent need of reform, but there is little sign of a long-term solution on the horizon. In this report we consider five different approaches, setting out the implications of each.

Data visualisation

Adult social care spending

Most social care is funded by local government. Spending on adult social care services by local authorities fell from £18.4 billion in 2009/10 to just under £17 billion in 2015/16, a real-terms cut of 8 per cent.

How is social care paid for?

Bite-sized social care: How is social care paid for?

This is the third video in our ''Bite-sized social care' series intended to help explain social care in England. In this one we give an overview of how social care is funded.

What is social care?

Completed project

What is social care and how does it work?

Our series of short videos and related content is intended to help clarify what social care is, how it’s provided and paid for, and how it works with the NHS and other services.

Allocating social care funds: difficult decisions ahead

The extra £2 billion for adult social care announced in the Spring Budget will be gratefully received, but local councils now face tough choices about where to allocate the money. Richard Humphries considers the context.

Social care still needs a sustainable funding settlement

The Communities and Local Government Select Committee has today published a report calling for major reform of social care funding and provision.

Spring budget: cash for social care and a green paper on future funding

The government has bought some time to find a sustainable solution for social care, say Chris Ham and Richard Humphries.

The King’s Fund responds to the Spring Budget

Chris Ham, Chief Executive of The King's Fund, gives his response to the Spring Budget 2017.

Completed project

Spring Budget 2017

A collection of work on NHS and social care funding and finances of particular relevance to the Spring Budget 2017.

‘The social care system is on its knees’

Richard Humphries comments on the Communities and Local Government Committee's pre-Budget report on adult social care.

Is a ‘death tax’ for social care about to be announced?

Is the government about to announce plans for a new approach to funding social care? Nicholas Timmins asks if a tax on people's estates after they have died will be an acceptable idea this time around.

Delayed discharge: 'It’s not just about the money'

Delayed transfers of care will only be solved when there is substantial additional investment in community-based services alongside local reform and improvement, argues Richard Humphries.

Is the NHS in crisis?

The NHS is struggling to cope with record demand and social care services are stretched to the limit. We look at the pressures on services and what needs to be done to put the system on a sustainable footing for the future.

Theresa May's choice: give the NHS more money, or tell voters to expect worse care

Chris Ham reflects on Simon Stevens challenge to the government either to find more money for the NHS and social care, or be honest with the public about the consequences.

The King’s Fund responds to a letter from the chairs of three Select Committees to the Prime Minister

Chris Ham responds to a letter on health and social funding written to the Prime Minister by the chairs of three House of Commons Select Committees.

What now for social care?

Widespread dismay greeted the omission of any reference in the 2016 Autumn Statement to the perilous state of social care funding. Richard Humphries looks at the options available.

The King's Fund responds to the Autumn Statement

Richard Murray, Director of Policy for The King's Fund, comments on the Autumn Statement 2016.

Paul Johnson: A winter of discontent for the NHS?

Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, responds to The King's Fund's 21st quarterly monitoring reporting, and discusses the outlook for health and social care funding ahead of the Autumn Statement.

The Autumn Statement: six graphics

In a joint briefing, The King's Fund, Nuffield Trust and The Health Foundation analyse the action the government needs to take in its Autumn Statement.

The Autumn Statement 2016: Joint statement on health and social care

In a joint briefing, The King's Fund, Nuffield Trust and The Health Foundation analyse the action the government needs to take in its Autumn Statement.

Listening to the chorus of concern around social care

As we publish a joint statement on health and social care, Richard Humphries considers the rising levels of concern in the social care sector about funding and quality of care.

Health charities warn of £1.9bn social care funding gap

Three leading health charities have issued a call for the government to address a £1.9 billion social care funding gap through the Autumn Statement.

Completed project

Autumn Statement 2016

The Autumn Statement was announced on 23 November 2016. It was the current government's first major economic statement and has set the financial context in which the health and social care system will operate going forward.

Future of adult social care funding reading list

A selected list of references held by The King's Fund library.

NHS finances: Our work on NHS funding, budgets and finances

Adult social care: Our work on social care policy, services and reform