National Insurance payments have increased for millions of workers across the UK today. The money raised by the 1.25 percentage point increase will be spent on the NHS, health and social care in the UK.
According to the Department for Health, the number of people waiting for elective care in England has risen from 4.4 million before the pandemic to six million. Boris Johnson said the manifesto-breaking tax hike is a “necessary, fair and responsible” way of raising funds for the "biggest catch-up programme in the NHS’ history".
The tax rise could raise £39 billion over the next three years, helping to reduce NHS backlogs which have been exacerbated by the coronavirus crisis. The extra cash will reduce waiting times and deliver millions more scans, tests and operations, according to the government.
