Answers · UK 2025/26
What is the social care costs cap in England and when does it start?
The Health and Social Care Act 2022 introduced an £86,000 lifetime cap on personal care costs in England, but it has been repeatedly deferred and is not expected before 2027-2028. Currently: assets above £23,250 mean you pay full care costs; between £14,250 and £23,250 you contribute on a sliding scale; below £14,250 the state pays. Hotel costs (accommodation and food) are excluded from the cap.
Full answer
The social care funding cap was introduced by the Health and Social Care Act 2022 following recommendations of the Dilnot Commission. Under the cap, once an individual's personal care costs reach £86,000 over their lifetime, the state takes over paying all further personal care costs. Personal care is defined as hands-on care (washing, dressing, feeding, mobility assistance) and does not include accommodation and food costs in a care home (the so-called "hotel costs"), which remain the resident's responsibility indefinitely. The cap was originally planned to start in October 2023, then deferred to October 2025, and has been deferred again -- as of 2026, it is not expected to be implemented before 2027-2028, though the government retains the power to bring it into force by statutory instrument. The current means-test thresholds (which remain unchanged in 2026): if your total capital and assets (including your home, unless a qualifying relative is living there) exceed £23,250, you are expected to pay the full cost of your care. Between £14,250 and £23,250, you pay a means-tested contribution -- roughly £1 per week for every £250 of capital above £14,250, plus any income above a personal expenses allowance. Below £14,250 in capital, the local authority funds the care (though income is still assessed). Property: your home is disregarded in the means test if your spouse/partner, a dependent child, or a sibling who has lived there for at least a year continues to live there. Otherwise, the property value is included. NHS continuing healthcare is a separate route: if your primary need is medical/healthcare rather than social care, NHS CHC pays all costs with no means test. Financial planning note: care costs average £40,000-£100,000+ per year in residential settings. Even with the cap eventually implemented, hotel costs could add £30,000-£50,000 per year on top. Early financial planning with a regulated financial adviser is recommended.
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This answer is informational only and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are for the 2025/26 UK tax year. See our methodology and sources.