What is social care? What it covers, who it is for and who pays

Social care is the practical help and support that adults with illness, disability or frailty receive with everyday life, such as washing, dressing, eating, getting around and staying connected with others. It is delivered in care homes, in people’s own homes and in the community, and in England it is either arranged by the local council or paid for privately.

At a glance

• Social care includes care homes, home care, supported living, shared lives schemes, equipment, home adaptations and some housing options.
• Anyone can ask their council for a free needs assessment. The council then decides whether the person’s needs meet national eligibility criteria.
• The council generally pays part or all of the cost where savings and investments are under £23,250, not counting the home in some cases. Above that, people usually pay themselves.
• The NHS provides some care instead, such as up to six weeks of reablement and NHS continuing healthcare, which are usually free.
• Skills for Care estimates 1.59 million filled posts in adult social care in England in 2025/26.

What does social care include?

The NHS describes social care and support as services that help people who need practical support because of illness or disability, and the people who care for them. It spans a wide range, from a short daily visit to a permanent move into a care home.

Personal care is the heart of most services. Our guide to what personal care is sets out what it covers.

How is social care different from NHS care?

NHS care treats and manages health conditions and is generally free at the point of use. Social care supports daily living, and most of it is means tested, which means people may have to contribute to the cost depending on their income and savings.

The two overlap. The NHS provides some care instead of the council, and it is usually free and not means tested. Examples include up to six weeks of reablement after illness or hospital discharge, and NHS continuing healthcare for people with complex, serious health needs.

• Read about reablement and NHS-funded nursing care.
• Check whether you might qualify for NHS continuing healthcare with our checker.

Who is social care for?

Social care supports adults of any age whose needs arise from physical or mental illness, disability, sensory loss, learning disability, frailty or dementia, and the unpaid carers who support them. The NHS guide lists people with care and support needs, carers such as spouses and family members, and people planning for the future.

In England, a council must decide if a person’s needs meet national eligibility criteria, set out in the Care and Support (Eligibility Criteria) Regulations 2015. A person is eligible if all three conditions apply:

1. their needs arise from, or are related to, a physical or mental impairment or illness;
2. as a result they cannot achieve two or more of ten listed outcomes, such as managing nutrition, maintaining personal hygiene, managing toilet needs, being appropriately clothed, using the home safely, keeping a habitable home, maintaining relationships, accessing work, training or volunteering, using community facilities, or carrying out caring responsibilities for a child; and
3. there is, or is likely to be, a significant impact on their wellbeing.

Our guide to the Care Act 2014 and your rights explains how this works in practice.

How do you get social care?

1. Ask for a needs assessment. Contact adult social care at your local council by phone or online. The assessment is free and anyone can ask for one.
2. Take part in the assessment. A social worker or occupational therapist asks how you manage everyday tasks. It may be face to face, by phone, online or a self-assessment. Mention small difficulties too, because leaving things out may reduce the support recommended. Our guide to preparing helps.
3. Receive the decision. The council decides whether you need help and tells you the result. If you do not qualify, it should still give free advice on local sources of support.
4. Have a financial assessment. If you are eligible, you will usually be asked to contribute, and a financial assessment decides how much the council pays.
5. Arrange care. The council may arrange it, or give you a personal budget or direct payment. You can also arrange care privately without the council.

If you disagree with the result or how the assessment was carried out, complain to the council first. If you are still unhappy, you can contact the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. Use our funding checker for a first idea of what help you might get.

Who pays for social care?

There is no single national budget for adult social care in England. Most publicly funded care is paid for through local government revenue, and the House of Commons Library notes that councils in England spent £23.3 billion on adult social care in 2023/24 (net current expenditure), the largest area of council spending after education.

For individuals, the NHS guide says councils generally pay partly or fully if savings and investments are under £23,250, not counting your home, though a home may count when moving into a care home. Above that, people are usually expected to pay for their own care. Some services are free and not means tested.

Our guides to the care means test and self-funding care go through the rules, and direct payments and personal budgets explain how to control your own care budget.

Social care is a devolved matter. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules, charges and regulators, so see paying for care in Scotland, in Wales and in Northern Ireland.

Who provides and regulates social care?

Skills for Care estimates 1.59 million filled posts in adult social care in England in 2025/26, up 22,000 from the year before, with 96,000 vacancies, a vacancy rate of 6.2 per cent. Most of the growth was in the independent sector, which includes private and voluntary providers.

In England, care homes and home care agencies that provide regulated activities must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which inspects and rates them. Our guide to what the CQC is explains how, and CQC ratings explained shows how to read a rating. Care workers usually complete the Care Certificate, the introductory standards for care staff, as part of their induction.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between social care and healthcare?

Healthcare diagnoses and treats medical conditions, mostly free through the NHS. Social care helps with daily living such as washing, dressing and eating, and is usually means tested. Some care, such as continuing healthcare, is NHS-funded.

Is social care free in England?

Not usually. A needs assessment is free, but councils generally pay towards care only if savings and investments are below £23,250. Above that, people typically pay themselves. Some services, such as reablement and continuing healthcare, are free.

Who can ask for a social care assessment?

Anyone who thinks they or someone they know needs help to cope day to day can ask the council. The assessment is free regardless of income or savings. Carers can ask for a separate carer’s assessment.

What does a social care worker do?

Care workers help people with personal care, meals, medicines, mobility and companionship, in care homes or in people’s homes. Social workers and occupational therapists carry out assessments and plan support with the person.

Is social care the same across the UK?

No. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own laws, charges and regulators. CQC covers England only. Check the rules for the nation where the person lives.

Where to get help next

If you are starting from scratch, work through our care needs checklist, then use the care cost calculator to see what different types of care may cost. When you are ready to compare services, use our care finder.

Sources

• NHS: Introduction to care and support
• NHS: Getting a needs assessment
• NHS: Care services, equipment and care homes
• legislation.gov.uk: The Care and Support (Eligibility Criteria) Regulations 2015
• Skills for Care: The size and structure of the adult social care sector and workforce in England, 2026
• House of Commons Library: Local authority financial resilience

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 9 November 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.