Politics
Westminster City Council 2026/27 Budget Allocates Adult Social Care Funds: Effects on Care Recipients and Council Tax Payers
The new funding distribution directs extra resources to home-based support services while increasing costs for some households through council tax adjustments.
How we reported this
Westminster City Council approved its 2026/27 budget on 7 July, directing an additional £4.2 million to adult social care through the Community Care Grant programme. The policy expands eligibility for home visits and day centre places for residents aged 65 and over who live alone, while tightening criteria for those with family caregivers nearby. Council tax bills for band D properties will rise by an average of £47 annually to cover the allocation.
Why the change takes effect this year
The adjustment follows updated projections in the council's medium-term financial plan published in March 2026. Those figures showed a 12 per cent increase in demand for care services since 2024, driven by longer hospital discharge waits in the borough. The budget papers state that the extra grant money comes from reserves built during the previous financial year rather than new central government grants.
Residents in receipt of the expanded home support will see visits increase from two to three times weekly in qualifying cases. Day centre places at facilities such as the St James's Centre will be available without a waiting list for approved applicants. Households that previously qualified under broader family-carer rules will now pay privately or seek alternative arrangements.
Who receives the new support and who pays more
Single pensioners in the Pimlico and Marylebone wards stand to gain most from the revised eligibility, according to the council's needs assessment attached to the budget. In contrast, working-age adults with moderate mobility needs who share accommodation with relatives fall outside the new priority group. Local advocates note that the council tax increase applies uniformly across all bands, adding roughly £3.90 per month to a typical bill.
The legislation states that the grant will be reviewed after 12 months using data from the council's adult services database. Applications open on 1 August 2026 through the existing online portal, with decisions expected within 15 working days. The council has projected that 1,150 additional residents will qualify in the first year.