Adult Care Training Refund Scheme 2026-27: How Employers Reclaim Qualification Costs

Who can claim

The employer, including a local authority, must meet all of these criteria:

• It provides an adult social care service.
• It directly employs care staff in England.
• It has an up-to-date account on the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS), updated at least once a year.

Eligible staff are non-regulated members of the adult social care workforce, including care workers, senior carers, deputy managers and registered managers. They need a UK National Insurance number and must be directly employed both when they train and when you claim. Regulated professionals, such as nurses and social workers, are not covered, and neither is training completed as part of an apprenticeship.

What you can claim

These are maximums, not fixed amounts. You can reclaim what you actually paid, up to the limit. The amounts have not changed for 2026-27. The scheme also covers some short courses, such as the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training. Check the official list for the exact qualification titles and awarding organisations that qualify, because a similar-sounding qualification may not be on it.

The scheme covers courses and qualifications paid for between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2027, under the rules for the year in which you made the first payment. Each organisation, including its parent and subsidiaries, can claim up to £400,000 for the period 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.

How the 60/40 claim works

1. Start claim (60%). Once the learner has started the qualification and you have paid for it, claim 60% within three months of the later of those two dates.
2. Completion claim (40%). Claim the remaining 40% within three months of the learner completing, after the start claim has been approved.

For short courses, claim within three months of the course being completed.

Evidence you need

• Proof of the learner's role and their National Insurance number.
• The awarding organisation, training provider and qualification name.
• A dated completion certificate for the final claim.
• Proof of payment showing who paid, who was paid, the course, the amount per learner and the date. An invoice on its own is not enough, and nor is a bank statement on its own.
• A declaration signed by a senior responsible officer.

Payments are made only to business bank accounts. The scheme does not cover backfill, travel or repeat claims for the same person and course.

How to apply

Register for the online claims service through NHS Business Services Authority's onboarding form. NHSBSA then arranges an onboarding call before you can submit claims. Because the funds are limited and claims are paid in the order they are received until the money runs out, it pays to claim promptly.

Tips for employers

• Keep your ASC-WDS account up to date before you enrol staff.
• Ask your training provider for an invoice and a receipt that shows payment for each learner.
• Diary the three-month deadlines for each start and completion.
• Check that the exact qualification title is on the eligible list before you enrol.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Learning and Development Support Scheme?

It is a Department of Health and Social Care scheme, run by NHS Business Services Authority, that lets eligible adult social care employers in England reclaim the cost of listed courses and qualifications for non-regulated care staff.

How much can I reclaim for the Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care?

Up to £835 per learner. For the Level 4 Diploma in Adult Care the maximum is £1,100. These are maximums, so you reclaim what you paid up to that amount.

Can local authorities claim?

Yes. The employer guide says employers, including local authorities, can claim if they provide an adult social care service, directly employ care staff in England and have an up-to-date ASC-WDS account.

When do I claim?

For qualifications, claim 60% within three months of the learner starting and the course being paid for, and the remaining 40% within three months of completion.

Is the funding guaranteed?

No. Funding is limited and claims are reimbursed in the order they are received until the money runs out.