This paper summarises the few identifiable increases for social work and social care services in the provisional local government settlement for 2026-27, dated 13 January 2026, and in an Annex we provide estimates for their distribution to individual local authorities. We also discuss other relevant items in the provisional settlement, and what seems to be missing for social work and social care. [Further work is planned later on the three-year Scottish Spending Review published alongside the Scottish Budget 2026-27 on 13 January – this flatlines total local government funding in cash terms across the years 2026-27 to 2028-29, so represents a real-terms reduction].
