National Insurance to increase by 1% to fund social care - reports

National Insurance is to increase by 1% to fund social care - reports, despite manifesto promise not to hike income tax, VAT, or NI.

A report suggests that National Insurance (NI) for millions of workers could be raised by 1% to fund social care. NI would be raised by 1%, according to Downing Street, but the Treasury prefers 1.50%. About 25 million workers and self-employed individuals would be affected by the move. Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt, writing in the Daily Telegraph, also said taxpayers should contribute more to solve the crisis by creating a new "health and care premium." A BBC report said the Conservatives pledged not to raise income tax, VAT or NI in their 2019 election manifesto. The report stated that for someone with an annual salary of £29536, a 1% increase in NI will be just over £200. A spokesperson for the government told the BBC that it was "committed to proposing a long-term reform of social care" this year.