Seven Money-Saving Schemes

Seven money-saving schemes disabled households could be missing

Water, energy and transport bills have all risen sharply in 2026, and the pressure falls especially hard on the UK’s 16.7 million disabled people. Matt Ward, Home Mobility & Accessibility Expert at Manage at Home, has highlighted seven discounts, grants and support schemes worth checking, from broadband savings of up to £200 a year to home adaptation grants of up to £30,000.

Many of these schemes need a separate application, and a lot of people who qualify simply don’t know they exist.

 

 

Matt Ward, Home Mobility & Accessibility Expert at Manage at Home, said:

“Disability support extends far beyond Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and other regular benefit payments. Depending on individual circumstances, help may be available with adapting homes for accessibility purposes, paying council tax, travelling, studying, working and accessing essential utilities. Checking each scheme individually could uncover support worth hundreds or even thousands of pounds.”

Consumer prices are now 28% higher than five years ago, with inflation rising by a further 2.9% in the year to July. At the same time, accessing the support that’s available can be difficult. Recent research found that 49% of disabled people with complex needs receiving benefits could not apply for support without help from friends, family or a support service, while 37% found it difficult to apply.

Matt points out that many people are not routinely told about additional support, and schemes often require separate applications: receiving PIP, holding a Blue Badge or telling a council about a disability does not necessarily mean someone will automatically be considered for other help. With eligibility rules varying from scheme to scheme, the burden often falls on individuals to find and research each option themselves, which can be inaccessible, time-consuming and difficult to navigate.

 

1. Broadband social tariffs: at least 3.5 million eligible households could be missing out

Over 500,000 households in Britain are saving up to £200 a year by using a fixed broadband or mobile social tariff, which offers discounts to people on disability or income-related benefits. However, Ofcom estimates suggest that between four million and eight million households could potentially qualify, depending on individual providers’ rules. That means at least 3.5 million eligible households are not currently claiming.

Unlike introductory broadband deals, social tariffs normally have fixed prices and do not charge early termination fees. Eligibility is generally linked to means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit or Employment and Support Allowance. Some providers also accept customers receiving PIP or Disability Living Allowance, but the qualifying benefits vary.

Social tariffs are not always advertised prominently, and customers are not necessarily moved onto one automatically. Check Ofcom’s current list of social tariffs (external link will open in a new browser tab or window) and contact your provider directly. If your existing provider does not offer a social tariff, you may be able to switch without paying an exit fee.

 

2. Disabled Students’ Allowance: fewer than three in ten known disabled students receive it

A record 262,820 UK 18-year-olds are preparing to begin university or college this autumn. With research estimating that at least 18% of UK university students have a disability, around 47,000 students starting this term may be disabled.

In England, eligible students can receive up to £27,783 through Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) during the 2026/27 academic year, depending on their assessed study needs. DSA can fund specialist equipment, assistive technology, non-medical support and additional travel costs. It is based on individual needs rather than household income, and most support is paid directly to suppliers or providers rather than given to students as cash.

Students should start by checking their eligibility and applying through their student finance account. Those who do not receive Student Finance England funding can apply using a separate DSA form. More details are on GOV.UK (external link will open in a new browser tab or window).

 

3. Blue Badge: two million eligible people don’t have one

Government figures released this year show that 3.22 million people in England were eligible for a Blue Badge without needing further assessment, but only 1.20 million (37%) held one. That leaves around 2.02 million eligible people without a badge, nearly two-thirds of the eligible population.

Not everyone who is eligible will need or want a badge, particularly if they don’t travel by car. However, the proportion holding one has fallen from 46% in 2020 to 37% in 2025, which suggests awareness or uptake may also be an issue.

A Blue Badge will generally allow free parking at on-street meters and pay-and-display bays in England. Savings vary with local rules and individual travel habits, but they add up: someone avoiding a £3 parking charge once a week could save around £156 a year, or £312 if parking twice a week.

 

4. Disabled Facilities Grants: one million households could be living without the adaptations they need

The latest comprehensive English Housing Survey estimated that around 1.9 million households needed at least one home adaptation, and around one million did not have all the adaptations they needed.

Disabled Facilities Grants can help fund essential changes such as installing ramps, widening doors, improving access to bathrooms or adapting heating and lighting controls. In England, applicants may receive up to £30,000, although adult applications are normally means-tested.

Households that include a disabled person should begin by asking their council for a home needs assessment rather than arranging expensive work themselves. Starting work before the council approves an application could mean the cost can’t be recovered. Private tenants can also apply, and landlords can apply on behalf of tenants, so renters shouldn’t assume the scheme is only for homeowners or council properties.

 

5. Water support: one in six households unaware of free help

Around 3.1 million customers were registered for water priority services in England and Wales in 2023/24. However, Ofwat research found that one in six households were unaware of this free support and would like to register.

Registration can provide accessible bills, meter-reading help, advance warning of interruptions and priority bottled-water deliveries. It does not automatically reduce bills, but customers may separately qualify for WaterSure or a social tariff. Around 260,000 WaterSure households save an average of £325 a year, while some water companies’ social tariffs cut bills by 50% or more. Ask your water company to check every support scheme available to you.

 

6. Access to Work: 73% of workers with long-term conditions have never heard of it

Access to Work is a government scheme that can fund practical support for disabled people and those with physical or mental health conditions to start or stay in work. This can include specialist equipment, assistive software, support workers, workplace coaching and extra travel costs where public transport is inaccessible. It provides support beyond the reasonable adjustments an employer is legally expected to make.

In 2024/25, 74,190 people received at least one Access to Work payment. Yet government research found that 73% of workers with a long-term health condition had never heard of the scheme. Check your eligibility and apply directly through GOV.UK (external link will open in a new browser tab or window).

 

7. Council Tax Disabled Band Reduction: over seven million households should check

Census figures indicate that around 32% of households in England include at least one disabled person, equivalent to around 7.5 million households. However, as of 10 September 2025, only around 143,000 properties were receiving the Disabled Band Reduction, which means Council Tax is calculated as though the property were one band lower.

To qualify, the property normally needs to have an additional room, bathroom or kitchen needed by the disabled resident, or enough indoor space for wheelchair use. Band A properties can also qualify. Based on England’s average Band D bill, moving from Band D to Band C could save around £21 a month, or £253 a year, although savings vary locally. You can check your eligibility with your council, and there’s more on GOV.UK (external link will open in a new browser tab or window).

 

Editor’s note: several of the figures and schemes above apply to England. Rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – for example, Disabled Facilities Grants aren’t available in Scotland, where councils run their own adaptation schemes – so check with your local council for the support available where you live.

 

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Further reading and resources

Disabled Facilities Grants
Blue Badge Parking
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Manage at Home

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