Government Help for Disabled People UK: Every Scheme & Support Available (2026)
By the RightfulUK team • • 6 min read • Reviewed for accuracy
The UK government provides extensive support for disabled people, but it's scattered across different departments, websites, and agencies. Most people don't know half of what's available.
This guide brings everything together in one place.
Financial Support
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) — Up to £184.30/week for daily living and mobility needs. Not means-tested.
Universal Credit disability premiums — Extra £416.19/month if you have limited capability for work.
Employment and Support Allowance — Up to £138.20/week if you can't work.
Attendance Allowance — Up to £108.55/week for over State Pension age.
Carer's Allowance — £81.90/week for your carer.
Severe Disability Premium — Extra money if you live alone with a disability.
Industrial Injuries Benefit — If your disability was caused by work.
Housing Support
Disabled Facilities Grant — Up to £30,000 in England (more in Wales) for home adaptations: ramps, stairlifts, wider doorways, accessible bathrooms.
Housing Benefit — Help with rent if you're on a low income.
Discretionary Housing Payments — Extra help if Housing Benefit doesn't cover your rent.
Social housing priority — Medical priority for council housing if your current home is unsuitable.
Right to adaptations — Your landlord must allow reasonable adjustments.
Transport
Blue Badge — Disabled parking permit. Usually automatic with Enhanced Mobility PIP.
Motability Scheme — Lease a car, scooter, or powered wheelchair using your Enhanced Mobility PIP.
Free bus pass — Available to disabled people in England.
Disabled Persons Railcard — 1/3 off rail fares.
Community Transport — Local schemes for door-to-door transport.
Vehicle tax exemption — Free road tax with Enhanced Mobility PIP.
Employment Support
Access to Work — Government pays for workplace adjustments: specialist equipment, support workers, travel costs. Worth up to £66,000 per year.
Disability Confident scheme — Employers committed to hiring disabled people.
Supported employment — Specialist employment programmes.
Reasonable adjustments — Legal right to workplace changes under the Equality Act.
Permitted Work rules — You can do some work while on ESA without losing benefits.
Health and Social Care
NHS Continuing Healthcare — Fully funded care if you have complex health needs.
Social care assessments — Right to a needs assessment from your local council.
Direct Payments — Money to arrange your own care instead of council-arranged services.
Free prescriptions — Exemption for certain conditions.
NHS Low Income Scheme — Help with dental, optical, and travel costs.
How to Access This Support
The system is complicated, and that's partly by design. Here's how to start:
1. Claim PIP first — It unlocks many other benefits automatically 2. Get a full benefits check — Citizens Advice or Turn2us calculator 3. Contact your council — Ask about Disabled Facilities Grants and social care 4. Ask your employer — About Access to Work and reasonable adjustments
Don't assume you're not entitled. Check everything.
Related Articles
- Disability Support Groups UK: Where to Find Help and Community — 5 min read
- PIP Help UK: Free Help With Your PIP Claim, Appeal & Tribunal (2026) — 6 min read
- PIP Tribunal: What Actually Happens (From People Who've Been) — 5 min read
- Disability Benefits UK: Complete Guide to Every Benefit You Can Claim (2026) — 7 min read
Related Tools & Guides
- Free PIP Eligibility Checker — estimate your likely points
- Mandatory Reconsideration Letter Builder — challenge the DWP decision
- Tribunal Preparation Tool — practice panel questions
- PIP Condition Guides — descriptors for your condition