Earlier this year, the Department of Health and Social Care confirmed that the upper and lower capital limits governing eligibility for local authority-funded care in England will remain frozen for the 2026–27 financial year. The limits – £23,250 for the upper threshold and £14,250 for the lower threshold – have remained unchanged since 2010. Under the Care Act, anyone with capital above £23,250 is expected to self-fund their care in full. Those with assets between the two thresholds are required to contribute towards their care costs on a sliding scale, while individuals with capital below £14,250 contribute from income only. On paper, these figures may appear straightforward. In practice, however, the decision to freeze them for yet another year represents a significant and growing problem for older people, disabled adults, and their families. The reality is that the thresholds have not kept pace with inflation, rising property values, or the increasing cost of care. Had the limits risen broadly in line with inflation since 2010, they would now be substantially higher. Instead, more individuals are being drawn into self-funding care simply because the value of modest savings or property assets has increased over time. For many families, this creates a profound sense of unfairness. Individuals who have worked, saved responsibly, or purchased a home during their lifetime can find themselves rapidly depleting their assets to pay for essential care. Meanwhile, the cost of residential care continues to rise sharply, with nursing home fees frequently exceeding £1,500 per week in some…
