19th February 2026 • My Family Our Needs

Government action to support adults with disabilities will allow a cash boost for over 150,000 disabled adults to tackle the cost of living.

Government is increasing the amount that working-age adults who receive social care must be able to keep after paying for home care, known as the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG), by 7% from April 2026. This should help to ensure that people have enough money for their daily living expenses and ease financial pressures.

This is the largest above-inflation uplift to MIG in over a decade. Adults with a disability will have a cash boost of up to £400 a year and those who are receiving the disability premium will keep up to £510 more a year.

The Government has also confirmed £723 million for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) next year to help older and disabled people to adapt their homes, enabling them to live safely and independently in the comfort of familiar surroundings.

These changes form part of the Government’s action to try and support those that need it most with the cost of living, while reforming adult social care and improving independence.

Stephen Kinnock, Minister of State for Care, said, ‘We are determined to not only reform adults social care but do it in a way that helps some of the most vulnerable people in society with the daily pressures they face.

‘From April, more than 150,000 disabled adults will keep hundreds of pounds more each year – putting extra money back into their pockets to help with everyday costs.

‘At the same time, we are putting more money into funding life-changing home adaptations so older and disabled people can live safely and independently.

‘These steps are part of our wider plans to build a national care service rooted in quality, fairness and dignity for all that use it.’

Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of Mencap, said, ‘The government’s decision to uprate the Minimum Income Guarantee for working-age adults accessing social care by 7% is good news.

‘We are please that ministers have listened to people with a learning disability about how social care charging impacts upon their household costs and overall wellbeing.’

Kate Lawson, Head of Policy, Public Affairs and Research at Sense, said ‘This is a welcome and long-overdue step that will put more money back into disabled people’s pockets at a time when many are struggling to make ends meet.

‘Many disabled people with complex needs experience barriers that increase their everyday costs. Because of this they often face impossible choices between paying for care and covering everyday essentials. Increasing the Minimum Income Guarantee provides vital reassurance that support with care should not come at the expense of basic living costs.

‘It is also positive news for local areas. Clearer national guidance and a meaningful uplift to the Minimum Income Guarantee gives local authorities and people who draw on care greater certainty and consistency about what people are entitled to keep. That clarity really matters when councils are under pressure and families are trying to plan their finances.’

You can find out more about the Minimum Income Guarantee here.

For more information about Disabled Facilities Grants, visit www.gov.uk/disabled-facilities-grants.

In other news, the UK government has announced plans to step in and help local councils with the huge debts they have built up from providing support for children with SEND.