Majority support income tax rises to increase funding available for adult social care

Seven in ten adults aged 16-75 in the United Kingdom (71%) would support an increase in income tax in order to increase the amount of funding available for adult social care, according to an Ipsos survey carried out on behalf of Future Care Capital.

Participants were asked whether they would support or oppose various increases to the basic, higher and additional rates of income tax to increase funding for social care in the UK.

• 50% would support an increase in the basic rate from 20p to 21p in every pound
• 57% would support an increase in the higher rate from 40p to 43p in every pound
• 58% would support an increase in the additional rate from 45p to 50p in every pound

The survey also set out to answer: who the public think should be responsible for delivering adult social care; whether they think people should be required to plan and prepare financially for social care services they may need; and how effective various policies would be in reducing pressure on the adult social care system.

The findings show:

• More than 2 in 3 (69%) think a public body should be most responsible for delivering adult social care services in the area where they live, with 1 in 3 (32%) saying the UK Government should be most responsible
• 11% say the family and friends of individuals who require adult social care should take most responsibility
• Half of adults (49%) agree that people should be required to plan and prepare financially for adult social care services they might require later on in life
• 3 in 4 adults (76%) think the UK Government increasing the number of people working in health and social care would be very or fairly effective in reducing pressure on the adult social care system
• A similar proportion (74%) think that investing in technology and home adaptations to assist those who require care would be effective

Technical note

The survey was carried out online by Ipsos on behalf of  Future Care Capital. Interviews were conducted among a representative quota sample of 2,259 adults aged 16-75 in the United Kingdom between 8th and 12th September 2017. Data have been weighted by age, gender, region, working status, social grade and highest education level to the known offline population profile.