Pension triple lock changes to help fund England’s National Care Service

A National Care Service offering free personal care to older people in England will be funded partly through changes to the state pension triple lock, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced.

The proposed service, described by Burnham as being founded on the same principles as the NHS, would provide support according to need rather than a person’s ability to pay. It would cover personal care such as help with eating, washing, dressing and using the toilet.

However, the proposals would not make every aspect of social care free. People living in residential care would still be expected to contribute towards accommodation and everyday living costs, with the existing system of means-tested council support remaining in place.

The National Care Service would be introduced in stages during the next Parliament, meaning its rollout would begin after the next general election. Baroness Louise Casey’s independent commission will make recommendations on its design and implementation, with its final report expected in summer 2027.

Burnham said the service would be funded without additional borrowing, with changes to the state pension triple lock generating part of the money required.

Under the existing triple lock, the state pension rises annually by whichever is highest: inflation, average earnings growth or 2.5%. The current arrangement will remain until April 2030.

After that date, pensions would continue to increase by at least inflation or 2.5%, whichever is higher. A new mechanism would also seek to ensure that the pension retains its value relative to average earnings over time, although it would no longer automatically rise by annual wage growth whenever that produced the largest increase.

The government estimates that the adjustment could reduce projected state pension spending by £15 billion a year by the end of the 2030s, with the savings used to build the care service gradually as workforce and provider capacity increase.

Burnham argued that reforming social care would also relieve pressure on the NHS by reducing avoidable ambulance call-outs and hospital admissions, while allowing patients to leave hospital sooner when they are medically ready.

The announcement represents a significant commitment after decades of unsuccessful attempts by successive governments to reform how adult social care is funded. However, important questions remain about the service’s eventual scope, the contribution expected from individuals and whether pension savings will be sufficient to meet its full cost.

The detail will now depend heavily on Baroness Casey’s recommendations and the funding settlement presented to voters before the next general election.

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