The Autumn Budget 2026 and disabled people

The Chancellor delivered the Autumn Budget on Wednesday 28 October 2026. For disabled people, carers and people on benefits, it brought some short-term help with energy costs and an important change to Carer's Allowance. It did not bring any decisions on PIP or other disability benefits.

This guide explains what was announced, what was not, and what you can do now. Some details are still being confirmed, and we will update this page as more is published.

PIP and disability benefits

The Budget did not change PIP, Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance. There were no new rates, no new rules and no cuts announced.

The government said it will consider the recommendations of the Timms Review of PIP, and respond later. Disability groups had hoped for answers in the Budget, and some have said the wait is causing worry. Decisions about the future of PIP, and its link to the Universal Credit health element, are now expected after the government's response, with any new law to follow after that.

Read the Timms Review of PIP explained for what the review has said so far.

Help with energy bills

A £100 Household Energy Payment

Households in council tax bands A to D in England will get a one-off £100 payment to help with energy costs this winter. It is expected to be paid from January 2027. Around 20 million homes are expected to get it.

You do not need to be on benefits to get it. It depends on your council tax band, which you can check on GOV.UK or your council tax bill.

Gas standing charges

The government plans to ask Ofgem to remove the separate standing charge on gas bills and build it into the price per unit instead. This is expected from 2027. The government says it could save the average household around £45 a year.

This may help people who use little gas. If you use a lot of gas, for example because you need to keep warm for health reasons, your saving may be smaller, because more of the cost moves into the price you pay for each unit you use. There was no confirmed change to electricity standing charges, which matter to many disabled people who rely on powered equipment.

Other help this winter

The Budget did not replace the help that was already in place. You may still get:

• the Warm Home Discount
• Cold Weather Payments
• the Winter Fuel Payment, if you are over State Pension age
• help from the Priority Services Register

Read our guides to disability and winter and help with energy and water bills.

Carer's Allowance

At the moment, if a carer earns even a little over the earnings limit (currently £204 a week after some deductions), they lose all of their Carer's Allowance. This is known as the "cliff edge", and it has left some carers owing large overpayments.

The Budget confirmed that the cliff edge will be replaced with a taper. Instead of losing everything, carers would lose £1 of Carer's Allowance for every £1 they earn over the limit. However, the change is not expected to start until 2030 to 2031.

Carers' charities have welcomed the change, but some have pointed out two things:

• it is several years away
• carers who get Universal Credit already have their Carer's Allowance taken off their Universal Credit, so some will see little difference

Until the change happens, the current rules still apply. Keep a close eye on your earnings, and tell the Carer's Allowance Unit straight away if they change. Read our Carer's Allowance guide and carers' rights.

Universal Credit and the health element

The Budget did not announce new changes to the Universal Credit health element. The changes from April 2026 still apply:

• most new claimants get the lower health element of £217.26 a month
• people who already had it, people who are terminally ill and people who meet the severe conditions criteria get £429.80 a month

The basic amount of Universal Credit (the standard allowance) is already set by law to rise by more than inflation each year up to 2029 to 2030.

Read changes to health and disability benefits.

Will benefits go up in April 2027?

The new rates for April 2027 had not been confirmed when this article was written. Most disability and carers' benefits, such as PIP, DLA, Attendance Allowance, ESA and Carer's Allowance, usually rise each April in line with the inflation figure for the September before. Some experts estimate a rise of around 3.5%, but this is only an estimate.

We will update our benefit pages as soon as the official rates are published.

Motability

Changes to the tax rules for the Motability Scheme were announced in last year's Budget, not this one. Since 1 July 2026, VAT applies to advance payments and Insurance Premium Tax applies to new leases. This can mean higher upfront costs for some new cars. Who can join the scheme has not changed. Read about Motability and car tax.

What you can do now

• Check you are getting everything you are entitled to. Many disabled people miss out on benefits and discounts. Try our free PIP self-check and NHS health costs check.
• Check your council tax band, so you know if you should get the £100 energy payment.
• Join the Priority Services Register with your energy and water companies.
• Do not put off a claim because of possible future changes. Claiming now protects your position.
• Get free advice from Citizens Advice, Turn2us or a local welfare rights service if you are unsure.