What we want to see in the budget for families with disabled children
3 mins read
Friday 23 October 2026
- Unlock disabled young people’s savings.
- Help with unavoidable energy costs.
- Protect vital financial support.
These are three changes Contact wants the government to deliver in the Chancellor’s forthcoming autumn budget next Wednesday.
Families with disabled children face a double financial penalty: higher everyday costs and fewer opportunities to earn when the care and support their child needs are unavailable.
The budget is an opportunity to ease those pressures, give families some much-needed breathing space and strengthen their financial security.
Unlock disabled young people’s savings
At Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) this week, Sarah Smith MP raised the ongoing problems preventing disabled young people from accessing savings held in their Child Trust Funds.
In response, the Prime Minister recognised how important Child Trust Funds are for disabled young people. Andy Burnham said “it’s crucial they are unlocked quickly”.
Contact, alongside parent campaigner Andrew Turner, has long campaigned for a simpler, safe way for disabled young people who cannot manage their own finances to access their savings.
Currently, many families face a complex Court of Protection process simply to access money saved for their child’s future. Similar barriers can affect Junior ISAs.
We want the government to back the process already being used successfully by a number of savings providers. This uses safeguards, including evidence that a parent is a DWP-appointed benefits appointee, to help families access their young person’s savings.
The Budget is an opportunity to turn the Prime Minister’s words into action.
Introduce an energy social tariff
For many families with disabled children, cutting energy use means cutting back on something essential to their child’s health.
Medical equipment, extra heating and frequent washing can all mean unavoidable bills. Families cannot simply switch off a ventilator or oxygen concentrator to save money.
We want the budget to commit to an energy social tariff. This is a discounted rate that recognises the extra energy needs of households with disabled people, including families caring for seriously ill and disabled children.
Support must reflect these unavoidable costs, rather than assume every household can reduce its energy use.
Protect financial support for disabled young people
The government must protect disability benefits. It must rule out removing or delaying access to the Universal Credit health element for disabled young people.
This is additional financial support for people whose disability or health condition significantly limits their ability to work and take part in work-related activities. We know from our helpline that some disabled young people receiving this payment are studying or working. Others have complex needs that mean paid employment may not be possible.
Disabled young people need financial security alongside opportunities to participate in education and employment. Better employment support must go hand in hand with protecting the income they rely on.
Families need certainty about the support available as their child moves into adulthood.
Invest in the support families need
Alongside these measures, our budget submission calls for investment in disabled children’s social care, including short breaks (respite), special education provision and accessible childcare.
When the right support is missing, children lose opportunities. Parent carers can be forced to reduce their hours or leave work. Investing early can help families stay well, remain in employment and avoid reaching crisis.
We will keep pressing the government for policies and laws that recognise the extra costs families face and give disabled children and young people the support and financial security they need to thrive.