News Story

Autumn Budget 2025: The Real Figures that Matter

November 12, 2025

As the Chancellor prepares the 2025 autumn Budget, we at the Care and Support Alliance urge her to remember the real people behind the numbers – and to make social care a national priority. 

 Don't forget the real figures in social care

This month, before the Budget announcement, we will deliver a symbolic red box filled with stories from disabled people, older people, and unpaid carers to Downing Street. The message is clear: the most important “figures” in this Budget are people – and we cannot wait any longer for action on social care. 

You can read the stories we shared with the Chancellor here

Image of a receipt showing the ‘Cost of Inaction on Social Care’. Items on the list are: ‘2 million over 65s with an unmet care and support need, 5.8 million unpaid carers, Up to 1.5 million disabled adults eligible for support but not getting it, 1.2 million unpaid carers in poverty, and 400,000 in deep poverty, 111,000 vacant posts in adult social care. At the bottom, the total reads ‘Millions left without the right support’. This is circled in red. A red arrow points to handwritten red text that says ‘The real figures that matter’.

Social care remains chronically underfunded, leaving hundreds of thousands without the help and support they need to live their lives safely and with dignity. As the Care and Support Alliance – a coalition of 60 leading charities – we know that without urgent investment, more disabled people, older people, and unpaid carers will be left without the care they need. People will miss out on the support they need to live safely, happily and independently. Families will continue to be pushed to breaking point as they struggle to plug the gaps.  

As a matter of urgency, we are calling on the Chancellor to: 

  • Commit to long-term, sustainable funding for social care.  
  • Ensure fair pay and conditions for care staff.  
  • Guarantee that everyone who needs care and support can access it, regardless of where they live.

 

Disabled unpaid carer quote Red and dark grey background with a red briefcase. Text reads: The figures that matter in social care: “Disabled carers like me must be valued and respected as part of the hidden workforce, saving the government billions of pounds.” Faiza, 70

Older person quote Red briefcase background with white text that reads: “I want to live my final years comfortably, without the stress of organising care and constantly worrying how I will pay for things. There is so much suffering.” Mary, 87