Uplift Requests in Social Care: What Are They?

An uplift request is a formal request from a social care provider to a commissioning body (usually a Local Authority, and sometimes an NHS body such as an ICB) to increase the fees/rates paid for care, typically due to rising costs or increased care needs. 

What are Uplift Requests? 

In social care, uplift requests are formal applications made by a care provider to the commissioning body (most often a Local Authority) asking for a fee uplift—an increase to the rate paid for care and support. 

Requests are commonly driven by cost pressures (for example, staffing, utilities, food, insurance, and compliance) and/or a change in a person’s needs that makes the care package more resource-intensive. 

You may also see uplift requests referred to as: fee uplifts, rate uplifts, price increases, inflationary uplifts (annual increases), or exceptional uplifts (increases based on evidence). 

The Purpose Behind Uplift Requests 

There are a variety of drivers behind uplift requests. However, the reasons typically fall into one of the following categories:  

• Operational cost increases. This can include food, energy and insurance increases.  

• Workforce changes. This includes factors such as wage increases brought on by the National Living Wage increases.  

• Needs-based.  When there is an increased complexity of a service users’ needs. 

• Inflation or national cost of care modelling.  

• Sustainability in the local market. 

Uplift Request Types 

Uplift requests in social care typically fall into a few distinct categories.  

Annual inflationary uplifts are the most common and are routine increases (often set out in contracts or framework terms) intended to reflect rising costs such as utilities, wages, and general inflation. 

Exceptional uplift requests are out-of-cycle requests made when providers face unusual or significant cost pressures. This could include sudden cost spikes, new regulatory requirements, or other material changes that affect the cost of delivering safe care. 

Needs-based uplifts relate to a specific person’s package of care. They are typically requested when someone’s needs become more complex or the agreed support plan changes and requires additional staff time, skills, or resources. 

It can also help distinguish between contractual uplifts (where the method and/or timing of uplifts are set out in the contract) and non-contractual uplifts (where an increase depends on the commissioner’s approval). 

How Does the Process of Uplift Requests Work? 

The typical process of uplift requests will look like:  

1. Provider submits the request to the commissioning body. 

1. Evidence is asked for and supplied. 

1. The commissioning body reviews the evidence and requests received. 

1. A decision is made based on benchmarks, a commissioning strategy, and a budget. 

The process can vary between commissioners, but most follow similar steps. Timelines also differ: some uplifts are handled on an annual cycle with predictable decision points, while ad-hoc requests may take longer and depend on additional evidence and internal approvals. 

Uplift Evidence & Decision-Making  

The evidence that a provider may need to give to affirm an uplift will be dependent on the type of request. However, some examples of what may be relevant include:  

• Staffing costs and wage increase documentation.  

• Documentation of overheads (e.g., rent, utilities, insurance). 

• Proof of training and compliance fees. 

• Evidence of changes in service delivery to an individual or a change in care needs. 

• Evidence of any exceptional financial pressures.  

• Documentation/evidence that emphasises the accuracy and transparency of the request reasoning.  

Once the request and supporting evidence have been received, the commissioner will decide whether to approve the uplift (in full or in part), reject it, or request further information. 

The factors considered by local authorities in the decision-making process can include the following:  

• Funding availability and budget constraints. 

• Contract terms, and framework agreements, 

• Duties to market sustainability under the Care Act 2014.  

• Whether the request is sufficiently evidenced and justifiable.  

• Benchmarking against care cost models and relevant data.  

 

Uplift requests help care providers seek a fair rate when the cost of delivering care increases or when a person’s needs change. Clear, well-evidenced requests support consistent, safe, and sustainable care. 

By submitting robust evidence and communicating transparently with commissioners, providers strengthen their case and reduce delays caused by follow-up questions or missing information. 

How CareCubed can help 

Uplift requests can be a stressful event for commissioners and providers alike. With tight budgets and high demand, having accurate relevant data and an evidence-based benchmark can make the process smoother.  

CareCubed can assist with uplift requests by helping commissioners to benchmark the costs of uplifts against robust local data. It can assist with navigating negotiations and assist providers evidencing their uplift request fees. CareCubed takes a person-centred approach, recording needs and supporting transparency, with clear reporting and case management. It is possible to track history enabling users to view previous uplifts and needs to help track cases over time. 

CareCubed can help teams manage uplift requests with a clearer evidence trail and more consistent decision-making. If you’d like to see how it works, contact us to book a demo.