UK Plans Free Personal Care for Older People in Next Parliament

Public Services Desk 2026-10-12 09:53 2 min read

A smiling elderly woman wearing glasses and a necklace in a home setting.

The UK government has announced plans for a National Care Service that would phase in free personal care for older people during the next Parliament. Older people and families planning care should check their current arrangements and watch for Baroness Casey’s recommendations, expected in summer 2027. The proposal is not yet in force, and residential accommodation and food would still involve means-tested contributions.

What the proposed free personal care would cover

Personal care includes help with everyday needs such as eating and bathing. Under the plan, older people would receive this care free based on need, introduced in phases in the next Parliament.

The proposal does not make residential care entirely free. Accommodation and food would remain subject to existing means-tested contributions. The government has not yet set out the full implementation timetable or detailed eligibility arrangements in the announcement.

State Pension Triple Lock is planned to continue until April 2030

The government says the current State Pension Triple Lock will remain until April 2030. It plans to use a revised formula from then, but the announcement does not provide details of how that formula would work.

UK Plans Free Personal Care for Older People in Next Parliament

These are plans for future policy, not changes already in force. People making retirement or care-cost plans should avoid assuming that either the proposed care service or a revised pension formula is already in effect.

What older people and families can check now

Baroness Casey’s commission is expected to recommend how a National Care Service could be built in a report due in summer 2027. Its recommendations may clarify how the service would work and how it would be introduced.

For now, review current care arrangements and costs with the relevant care provider or local authority. Check the government’s announcement and the commission’s recommendations when published for confirmed eligibility, coverage and timing. Until changes are formally introduced, existing care and pension arrangements continue to apply.

Source: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street

Context & actions About this article

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The Prime Minister’s Office announced the care service proposal and pension timetable on 29 September 2026.

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