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Autumn statement 2025: How the budget will affect disabled people

Rachel_Scope

The government has announced its latest Budget, which outlines its plans for the economy, including changes to taxation and spending.

Some of the measures included in the Budget have previously been announced.

Scope will be analysing Budget documents over the coming days to identify the full impacts for disabled people. This article will be updated with more detail.

Here are the main points so far of how disabled people will be affected:

Changes to the Motability scheme

VAT will be added to new leases from July 2026.
More expensive cars, such as BMW and Mercedes will be removed from the scheme.

Changes to Benefits

The PIP award review periods will be extended, meaning less frequent reviews for some claimants.
The rate of working-age benefits is increasing in line with inflation from April 2026.
The 2-child benefit cap will be removed from April 2026.
The number of Work Capability Assessments (WCA) and face-to-face UC health assessments are increasing. This means that those unable to work may face more frequent assessments to get out-of-work benefits.

Employment Support

Anyone who is disabled and claims out-of-work benefits will have access to 1,000 specialist advisers and tailored support to find work.
A Youth Guarantee scheme will guarantee eligible 18 to 21-year-olds a six-month paid work placement from 2026.

Energy Costs

Households are expected to save £150 on energy bills from April 2026 because of some changes to levies. Levies are charges included in energy bills to fund environmental and social programs.
The government will provide an additional £1.5 billion capital investment to tackle fuel poverty through the Warm Homes Plan.
In October, the £150 Warm Home Discount was expanded to a further 3 million of the poorest households on means-tested benefits.

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Comments

Trevor_PIP

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1087542#Comment_1087542

Thank you.

Trevor_PIP

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1087576#Comment_1087576

I am not judging anybody, it's a known fact! There is also no harm in reassessing these youngsters and that is what is planned, if they are suffering they won't lose their benefits. If they are deemed able to work they will have to find a job. If you are on benefits the DWP are in their rights to have a check up from time to time.

Trevor_PIP

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1087580#Comment_1087580

How has it decreased, look at the increases in numbers. It's millions per benefit in just a few years..... There are other areas where the money can go, NHS, mental health support, infrastructure etc.

The Accounts Clerk Reeves has tanked the economy.... Europeans are back to where they were pre covid. Well written about. May have dropped a bit with Ukraine war.

The young issues are well known, it is nothing new and investigated.

I am not quoting any far right, I only read or investigate information from professional organisations.

Why are there going to be reforms if I am wrong and you are right?

I am not replying anymore, we are not going to agree. You are entitled to your opinion as I am mine!

Nightcity

The government has an obsession with the disabled and particularly the young disabled.

a shame it doesn't take such an obsessive interest in MPs who take 4 months a year off during non sitting periods, Claim ridiculous things on expenses and accidentally forget how many homes they own.

Although some claimants may have taken advantage of the covid years to get an award, and I'm sure there are a few,I really don't think it's typical and I hope they have the common sense to not send those pre pandemic claimants again, I had one in 2021 during the pandemic so they were still happening

But wasting money reassessing people who never have or will improve simply because they haven't put them in scc is expanding the phantom black hole further.

They also have a dangerous attitude by claiming some conditions are mild which really aren't in some people.

Trevor_PIP

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1087698#Comment_1087698

Thank you. To be fair I did not say the youngsters are driving up the figures, I have looked at the same information you have prior. The youngsters were the ones mentioned in the original posters attachment, that is why I have discussed them. I know what goes on in my own town, everything I post is fact. It is known by professional organisations and the government they get more money being on the sick than working on the National basic wage. Plenty of opportunities in my area but there are youngsters that flunk interviews to remain on UC and play the system. I have posted actual examples on this forum. A friend had a job at a car rental station, he left and it took 2 years to get a replacement. A lot applied and were interviewed but when contacted for the job - excuses! Just going through the UC procedure of looking for a job... It was the Managers wife's Father that took the job in the end - a family member....

In my town, the employees are leaving at 55 on early retirement, I did, it has gathered pace and not just one company. I think it is an issue countrywide as the Conseratives wanted us to go back to work.. This is fact.

I have decided to not rep!y to this thread but since it was you I have.

ashmere

From the rightsnet site

Lies, damned lies and the Telegraph

The Telegraph posted CSJ figures using an outrageously false comparison of 2 cases (The Express did a similar piece) . It claimed a family on benefits were better off by £18k than a working household when the real figure, after I made the circumstances the same, was £16k worse off. The details at https://benefitsinthefuture.com/

https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/21603/#100186

Nightcity

Trevor_PIP

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1087759#Comment_1087759

How does UK disability increases since lockdown compare to European countries?

The UK's increase in disability benefits claims since the lockdown has been more pronounced than in other European countries. While the UK has seen a significant rise in claims, comparable countries like France and Norway have experienced a slight decrease in claims. Denmark, on the other hand, has seen a notable increase in claims, at 13%. This trend indicates that the UK's increase in claims is a unique phenomenon, driven by a combination of factors such as the onset of the pandemic and the subsequent rise in health-related benefits spending.

Our information does not match again.... If the UK can afford the unprecedented increases in benefit spending - why are reforms imminent? The money needs to go to the NHS, mental health support, community support for disabilities etc etc.....

MarkGibbons1

The budget really doesn't do anything for me or most disabled people. I see that the government through the job centre want to support disabled people into work. Most disabled people I know want to work, we can get the job but need proper support to keep it.

I know that their cutting back on access to work on what they fund. The support to stay in work is none existent or **** standard. I want to work but both my rheumatology specialist says my condition means I can't work as my spine and Neck are completely fused and can't move them. I have anyklonsing spondylitis.

And then both my mental health worker and psychiatrist say because, I have server paranoid schizophrenia I can't wirk as I'm in psychosis a lit and my bad voices don't like anyone and I say things what their telling me to say woukd be asked in 1 minute.

I have worked in the past had my own businesses been a support worker working with adults with learning disabilities.

Nightcity

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1087792#Comment_1087792

it certainly shows the unsustainable line isn't true, aside from being almost the lowest in amount spent, we also to the best of my knowledge are the only country consistently having the UN convention for disabled rights investigate and have a system described as showing "grave and systemic violations" in our treatment.

Trevor_PIP

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1087784#Comment_1087784

Thank you, as you know I like your posts. Slightly differing views I would say. What I have come across with the young is not widespread but it does happen.

Yes, I got a chance to leave after the same working time period as you. I too was apprehensive as I liked my profession, but a family member was not well and I took the early retirement. It was strange walking away from my deck and computer for the last time, I took a long last look, turned and never looked back! The same with the company's electronic gates and the path I walked so many times as I left the company for the last time. Being honest, it is the best thing I have ever done! No regrets whatsoever. I am on a reduced pension but I can manage. Being honest, once I had left for while and got into doing what I like, I don't know now how I had time for work... You will find things to do, new things as well. New interests etc. Sorry about your situation over your husband by the way.

Yes, friends left at the same time and ended up going back in another profession in a different division, some people can't retire. I could go back, they would be only to happy to do that in another area of the company, but not for me!!! You do miss the company with work colleagues initially but it wears off. Finally, if you want my thoughts on what you should do - leave!

I agree with that comment that disabled people don't get paid more than working people, but there is a grey area with the National Basic Wage, but you need extra money with a disability.

The number of new motability cars is not high I know that and what you state is correct. A councillor told me there are 800,000 motability cars.

Slightly differing views but we can discuss them amicably.

Richi_Poor

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1087188#Comment_1087188

[Removed by moderator - Uncivil] the whole reason disabled benefits is a thing is because we are unable to go and earn the money that allows us to live any sort of life financially, if appliances broke how would we repair them or replace them, and cars like bmw are actually more reliable cars that is why many owned them, a disabled person whether physical or mental need reliable cars to get to where they need to at a moments notice, as a mental health sufferer if i did not have my car when a panic attack was gonna kick in i'd be screwed, so i have always had reliable cars and they have got me out of some serious problems in the past, and if you didn't know anyone who had cars like that on pip had to pay for them still! [Removed by moderator - Uncivil]

Rachel_Scope

Just a reminder to be civil everyone. I know there will be differing opinions and this will affect many of you, but please be respectful.

sarah_lea12

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1087792#Comment_1087792

Everyone are Psychologically bullied and tormented ,its how they the elite control the peeps . Frightened people are easier to control .

BIGALAN45

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/140217/autumn-statement-2025-how-the-budget-will-affect-disabled-people

Out of work sickness people going to be told to work or look for work or lose benefits or sanctions? that what it sounds like to me, heard stories going to use DWP staff in GP surgeries as well

Nightcity

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1089029#Comment_1089029

That's a voluntary thing , if you don't want to see them in the surgery you can decline.

The other part would require a law change and many exclusions or it'd never pass into law at all.

Trevor_PIP

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1089030#Comment_1089030

Are you sure? I doubt they will be messing about over these reforms.

Nightcity

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1089122#Comment_1089122

Yes I'm sure, he first said that quote to the BBC in September, again to the work and pensions committee and yesterday again at an event he attended to the guardian and others there. it's also on a benefits and work article and a disability news service article.

he said he's not ruling anything in or out.

the GP thing is voluntary and can be self referral or by others.

to make anything legally non voluntary it requires legislation and would require exclusions of vulnerable groups.

Nightcity

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/connect-to-work

voluntary 🙂

Trevor_PIP

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1089123#Comment_1089123

Not being funny, I have seen that you have to be working with a work coach also. I just don't think it will be messing about next year with McFadden and Timms. They have to do this as we all know. And be seen to be doing it by working people especially.