Local authority spend on adult social care in 2025/2026

This DHSC report provides details of local authority revenue spend of £31.6 billion on adult social care in 2025/2026, an increase of £2.3 billion on the previous year. Furthermore, 81% (or £25.8 billion) was spent on long-term support, an increase of £2.2 billion.

While there is no mention of annual capital spend, the report also identifies the amount spent on accommodation costs relating to adult social care for people over 65 and working age adults in need of long-term support.

For people aged 65 and over

• the highest category of spending was on residential care (£5.5 billion or 42%). £4.7 billion (36%) was spent on community care, £2.8 billion was spent on nursing care and £184 million (1%) was spent on supported accommodation
• of the spending on community settings for people aged 65 and over, 65% was spent on home care, 16% was spent on direct payments, 13% was spent on supported living and 7% was spent on other long-term care

For working age adults (aged 18-64)

• local authorities spent more on long-term care in the community (65%) than on all other settings combined
• the largest category of expenditure on long-term community care was supported living (49% of total community spending) and home care accounted for 15%
• spending on residential care accounted for 24% (£3.1 billion). Supported accommodation accounted for 7% (£823 million) and nursing care accounted for 4% (£518 million)

Lastly, on assistive technology across all age groups, in 2025/2026, expenditure on assistive equipment and technology increased by 14% (£37 million) to £303 million. No further detail is provided and it is assumed that this figure only relates to where technology is part of a planned care package.