Full Breakdown
Andy Burnburn’s Social Care Reform Plan: Free Personal Care for Over-65s and a New National Care Service
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Announcement
He framed the proposal as the first step toward a National Care Service (NCS) that would eventually cover the whole population. Burnham said the funding would come from reforms to the state-pension “triple lock” and announced an immediate £500 million allocation to support a fair-pay agreement for care workers.
Background & Context
The promise follows decades of under-investment in UK social care. Theresa May’s 2017 manifesto highlighted care funding, yet families have continued to shoulder most costs. The Labour manifesto of 2024 committed to a national care service, but the plan has remained unfunded. Previous Conservative attempts, such as the 2021 “health and care levy” proposed by Boris Johnson, were abandoned after political fallout.
Funding & Workforce Proposals
Burnham’s speech earmarked £500 million to underwrite any uplift in pay for care staff. Critics note that this sum may be insufficient given the sector’s scale. Current data show that almost half of care workers are paid below the real Living Wage, despite more than 500 providers already paying the Living Wage. Burnham also suggested tweaking the triple-lock mechanism beyond 2030 to free up additional resources, but no concrete timetable was provided.
Reactions from Care Workers and Advocacy Groups
The Living Wage Foundation welcomed the recognition of care workers, stating:
“We welcome the Prime Minister's recognition of the need to reform social care in this country. For too long, low pay has been at the heart of the workforce challenges facing the sector, despite care workers providing an essential service and deserving a wage that meets their everyday needs.” — Emily Sawh
Disability-rights organisations criticised the age-limited scope. Svetlana Kotova of Inclusion London called the plan “shocking and disappointing” for excluding working-age disabled people, who represent one-third of social-care users. Fazilet Hadi of Disability Rights UK questioned why the policy focuses solely on older adults while working-age disabled people face rising charges.
Linda Burnip of Disabled People Against Cuts warned:
“It is shocking that a Labour government continues to slash our rights, putting us at risk of destitution, imprisonment in our own homes or care homes, and even of more unnecessary deaths.” — Linda Burnip
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Burnham’s announcement that free personal care will apply only to those over 65 contrasts with expectations that the NCS should serve all adults needing care. Government spokespeople confirmed the age limit, noting that broader reforms for working-age disabled people will be addressed after the final report of Baroness Casey’s social-care commission, expected next year.
Funding estimates also diverge. While Labour has set aside £500 million, analysts such as Joe Dromey argue that the sector requires a substantially larger investment to achieve a fair-pay agreement and to cover the cost of expanding free personal care.
What’s Next
The government has indicated that the triple-lock reform will be debated in Parliament, but no date has been set for a vote. The upcoming Casey report will shape the next phase of the NCS, including whether funding mechanisms will extend beyond the over-65 cohort. Advocacy groups have signalled continued pressure, with planned demonstrations and calls for a “National Independent Living Service” that would provide free care to all disabled people, regardless of age.