What does UK polling say about social care in 2026?
71% of UK adults say the adult social care system is broken or inadequate. 1.5 million people are in the “care gap” — needing care they cannot access or afford. Only 14% say the current system works well. NHS bed-blocking caused by lack of social care capacity costs an estimated £1.5 billion per year.
Which party do voters trust most on social care?
Labour leads trust on social care at 26%, followed by the Liberal Democrats at 18% and the Greens at 13%. The Conservatives are trusted by only 9%, reflecting the legacy of a decade of funding cuts. 31% trust no party to fix social care — the highest “no party” rating of any major policy area.
What is the "care cap" and do voters support it?
The care cap was a proposed £86,000 lifetime limit on personal care costs, announced by Boris Johnson but then delayed and eventually scrapped. 64% of voters supported having a care cap in principle. However, 57% said the government should fund social care more generously rather than relying on individuals to pay first up to a cap.
How does social care polling differ by age group?
Social care has the widest age-salience gap in British politics. Among over-65s, 84% cite social care as a top-5 issue. Among 18–34s, only 29% do. However, younger voters are more likely to support tax rises to fund social care: 67% of 18–34s support a dedicated care tax versus 52% of over-65s. See the full breakdown in our NHS and health polling for the related demographic picture.
What is a National Care Service and do voters support it?
A National Care Service (NCS) — modelled on the NHS model of universal, publicly funded provision — has been proposed by Labour and the Greens. 58% of voters support the principle of an NCS, though support falls to 44% when voters are told it would require significant tax increases. The Lib Dems’ proposal of free personal care (Scotland’s existing model) is backed by 61% of English voters. The fundamental challenge is cost: the King’s Fund estimates full universalisation would cost £18–30bn per year extra — comparable to the NHS’s annual spending increase required to meet demand.
Why is the social care workforce in crisis?
The social care sector has 152,000 vacancies and an annual turnover rate of 28.3% (Skills for Care 2025). Core problems are pay — care workers earn on average £10.88/hour versus £13-16/hour for comparable NHS roles — and working conditions including high rates of zero-hours contracts (34% of the workforce). Overseas recruitment restrictions introduced from 2024 have worsened the vacancy rate in a sector that previously relied significantly on migrant workers. 72% of voters say care workers should be paid comparably to NHS staff doing similar work, but only 38% say they would personally pay higher taxes to fund this.
The Scale of the Social Care Crisis
Adult social care in England has faced a structural funding gap for over a decade. Local council budgets for care have fallen in real terms, provider fees have not kept pace with inflation, and the workforce faces chronic shortages. The result is a system that polling consistently finds voters regard as fundamentally broken.
Social Care Funding — What Voters Support
When asked how social care should be funded, voters show relatively clear preferences: most favour a mix of higher taxation and better government funding, rather than individuals selling assets to cover care costs. The politically toxic "dementia tax" controversy of 2017 left a lasting mark on public opinion about asset-based care funding.
Party Trust on Social Care
Age Gap in Social Care Polling
No issue in British politics has a wider salience gap by age. Over-65s experience social care needs directly — for themselves, their parents, or their peers. Younger voters support reform but rank it lower. Paradoxically, younger voters are more willing to fund social care through higher taxes.
NHS and Social Care: The Bed-Blocking Crisis
Social care's failure directly damages NHS performance. When elderly or disabled patients cannot be discharged to appropriate care settings, they occupy NHS beds at a cost of roughly £300 per night. This creates a cascade effect: cancelled operations, A&E overcrowding, ambulance delays. Voters increasingly understand this link.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does UK polling say about social care in 2026?
71% of UK adults say the adult social care system is broken or inadequate. 1.5 million people are in the “care gap” — needing care they cannot access or afford. Only 14% say the current system works well. NHS bed-blocking caused by lack of social care capacity costs an estimated £1.5 billion per year.
Which party do voters trust most on social care?
Labour leads trust on social care at 26%, followed by the Liberal Democrats at 18% and the Greens at 13%. The Conservatives are trusted by only 9%, reflecting the legacy of a decade of funding cuts. 31% trust no party to fix social care — the highest “no party” rating of any major policy area.
What is the "care cap" and do voters support it?
The care cap was a proposed £86,000 lifetime limit on personal care costs, announced by Boris Johnson but then delayed and eventually scrapped. 64% of voters supported having a care cap in principle. However, 57% said the government should fund social care more generously rather than relying on individuals to pay first up to a cap.
How does social care polling differ by age group?
Social care has the widest age-salience gap in British politics. Among over-65s, 84% cite social care as a top-5 issue. Among 18–34s, only 29% do. However, younger voters are more likely to support tax rises to fund social care: 67% of 18–34s support a dedicated care tax versus 52% of over-65s. See the full breakdown in our NHS and health polling for the related demographic picture.
What is a National Care Service and do voters support it?
A National Care Service (NCS) — modelled on the NHS model of universal, publicly funded provision — has been proposed by Labour and the Greens. 58% of voters support the principle of an NCS, though support falls to 44% when voters are told it would require significant tax increases. The Lib Dems’ proposal of free personal care (Scotland’s existing model) is backed by 61% of English voters. The fundamental challenge is cost: the King’s Fund estimates full universalisation would cost £18–30bn per year extra — comparable to the NHS’s annual spending increase required to meet demand.
Why is the social care workforce in crisis?
The social care sector has 152,000 vacancies and an annual turnover rate of 28.3% (Skills for Care 2025). Core problems are pay — care workers earn on average £10.88/hour versus £13-16/hour for comparable NHS roles — and working conditions including high rates of zero-hours contracts (34% of the workforce). Overseas recruitment restrictions introduced from 2024 have worsened the vacancy rate in a sector that previously relied significantly on migrant workers. 72% of voters say care workers should be paid comparably to NHS staff doing similar work, but only 38% say they would personally pay higher taxes to fund this.
Party Trust: Social Care
Source: YouGov / Ipsos May 2026
The Workforce Crisis
152,000 social care vacancies represent a sector in crisis. Care workers earn on average £10.88/hour — below the National Living Wage for many roles when adjusted for zero-hours conditions. Staff turnover runs at 28.3% per year (Skills for Care 2025).
Scotland’s Free Personal Care
Scotland provides free personal care (up to a standard rate) through a model introduced by the Scottish Executive in 2002. In 2026, 77% of Scottish adults say they support the policy. 61% of English adults say England should introduce a similar scheme. The Lib Dems have proposed extending this model to England at a cost of £8 billion.
Salience by Age Group
% citing social care as a top-5 issue