What the Autumn Budget means for blind and partially sighted people

Eleanor Thompson, RNIB Director of Policy, Campaigns and Social Action, said:

“More than half of blind and partially sighted people have told us the rise in energy costs has affected their wellbeing, so the energy relief announced in today's budget is welcome. But it is critical that reforms to disability benefits expected in the months ahead do not wipe out the positive benefit of today's measures.

“Only 13 per cent of blind and partially sighted people say their disability benefits fully cover the extra costs of sight loss. People with sight loss face higher day-to-day costs for a wide range of things, from travel to food to specialist equipment. We'll be watching closely to ensure that access to this essential support isn’t reduced when the Timms Review reports in the weeks ahead.”

Cost of Living

The Budget provides some welcome support in energy relief. However, the UK Government must go further to support disabled people with higher energy costs, including the introduction of a social energy tariff.

Measures to reduce food bills will provide some relief at the checkout, but savings must be accessible to everyone.

Energy bills

Extending the cut of VAT on electricity bills through the winter and spring to July will provide some help to households facing high energy costs.

However, while scrapping gas standing charges could reduce bills for many, shifting these costs to the unit price risks penalising blind and partially sighted people who need to heat their homes for longer. For example, some people with sight loss will spend more time at home or have additional health conditions. The UK Government must ensure people with higher, unavoidable energy needs are not left worse off.

The £100 Household Energy Payment will provide some support with rising bills. In England, it will be paid to around 20 million households in Council Tax bands A to D.

However, it’s disappointing that the Budget did not increase the £150 Warm Home Discount or extend its support to disabled people with higher, unavoidable energy costs who may not receive a qualifying means-tested benefit.

The additional £100 million for local authorities in England will help councils support households acutely affected by rising energy bills, including some in Council Tax bands outside A to D that will not receive the national £100 payment. Councils must target this funding effectively and provide information and any application processes in accessible formats.

A new Energy Debt Circuit Breaker will include measures to prevent energy debt from building up and provide targeted debt relief. This is positive, but support must be accessible, well publicised and designed so blind and partially sighted people can manage repayments and access support independently.

Food prices

The removal of import taxes on some food items will slightly reduce grocery bills. It’s important supermarkets make their websites, apps and stores accessible so blind and partially sighted people can compare prices and make full use of deals and discounts, however they shop.

Welfare

Timms and Milburn Reviews

The publication of the Timms and Milburn Reviews, which the Chancellor confirmed would be in November, must lead to reforms shaped by disabled people.

The Timms Review into Personal Independence Payment (PIP) must ensure PIP reflects the realities and additional costs of sight loss.

The Milburn Review, an independent review of the increase in the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), must deliver joined-up, specialist support that helps young people with vision impairment move from education into sustainable employment. This is particularly important because young people with vision impairment are twice as likely to be not in education, employment or training as other young people of the same age.

Disability benefits and inflation

Disappointingly, the Budget did not confirm the 2027 to 2028 rates for disability benefits or Universal Credit. The UK Government should provide reassurance that these benefits will be uprated in line with inflation, to help people meet rising living costs.

Carers Allowance

A change to Carer’s Allowance is an important step towards a fairer and more predictable system. Previously an earnings cliff-edge meant carers risked losing their entire allowance because of a small increase in earnings. This will be replaced by a more gradual, tapered reduction in Carer’s Allowance in 2030.

We welcome the change, but waiting until 2030 is too long. The UK Government should bring implementation forward and provide temporary protections, so carers aren’t penalised by the cliff-edge in the meantime.

Blind Person’s Allowance

Uprating the Blind Person’s Allowance in line with inflation will help people with severe sight impairment keep more of their income. The UK Government should also widen eligibility to people certified as sight impaired, so that more people facing the additional costs of sight loss can benefit.

Tax-free allowance for low-income pensioners

Protecting low-income pensioners from paying income tax on the State Pension provides important reassurance. This is particularly relevant to people with sight loss, as the everyday living costs of a pensioner with severe sight impairment are estimated to be 73 per cent higher than for someone of the same age without sight loss.

Find out more

Read more about how the rising cost of living is affecting blind and partially sighted people in RNIB’s 2026 research report: The Cost of Living and Sight Loss