Number of people living to 90 soars: How will they pay for social care – and will Burnham’s plans stem the crisis?
The number of people aged 90 and over in England and Wales has risen sharply, increasing the urgency of the social-care funding debate as more people may need support for longer. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced a renewed effort to reform the system, saying previous governments failed to resolve pressures including NHS demand, uneven care standards and the risk that families lose substantial assets to care costs.
Official figures show around 580,000 people were aged at least 90, up 54 per cent over two decades, while the number of centenarians reached about 15,000 in 2025, a 90 per cent rise. In England, people generally fund residential care until assets fall to £23,250, potentially including their home; Burnham has asked Baroness Louise Casey to bring forward a review on a National Care Service to summer 2027 and is seeking cross-party agreement, without ruling out tax rises.
In short
- Longer lives intensify pressure to reform social-care funding.
- Over-90 population rose 54 per cent in two decades.
- Ministers seek cross-party support for a National Care Service.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A National Care Service could make support more consistent and reduce the risk that people must spend down much of their savings or home to meet care costs. With more people living into their nineties, a review and cross-party agreement could help build a funding system that is fairer to families and better joined up with the NHS.
The case against
A national system and broader public funding could require higher taxes or divert money from other priorities, while a review lasting until 2027 may not ease pressures facing families and care providers now. Critics could argue that central reform risks adding bureaucracy and that any settlement must be affordable and preserve a role for personal contributions.
Explained simply
The very old population in England and Wales is growing rapidly. There are now around 580,000 people aged 90 or older, up 54 per cent over two decades, and approximately 15,000 centenarians. More elderly people living longer means greater demand for social care services.
The current system requires people in England to fund their own residential care until their assets drop to about £23,250, potentially including their home. This means families face substantial costs and possible loss of wealth, and care standards vary significantly between regions. The increasing demand also strains the wider health service.
These pressures have created what many describe as a social care crisis. The government is exploring how to fund care services sustainably whilst protecting families from severe financial hardship and ensuring consistent quality across the country.
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