Download the app
© 2026. The Purpl Co Limited. All rights reserved.
Download the app
© 2026. The Purpl Co Limited. All rights reserved.
16 min read
Written by
Georgina, Founder of Purpl
Published on
July 22, 2026
Last reviewed: 21 July 2026
Applies to: UK
Written by: Georgina, Founder of Purpl
Andy Burnham has said he wants to reduce the national welfare bill, but has ruled out the “crude”, short-term cuts traditionally used by Westminster.
Instead, he is calling for a preventative welfare state. This would invest earlier in housing, healthcare, education and employment support, rather than waiting until people lose their independence, leave work or reach crisis point.
The debate has become even more relevant after Burnham announced yesterday, that VAT will be removed from household electricity bills in Great Britain for six months from 1 October 2026. The change could offer some relief to disabled households with higher electricity use, but the amount returned to most families will remain relatively small.
The principle sounds positive. However, what would prevention actually mean for disabled people and those living with long term health conditions?
Below, we look at what early intervention could achieve, why prevention must never replace essential financial support and how meaningful welfare reform should be measured.
Purpl is a membership programme that helps people with disabilities and long term health conditions reduce the extra cost of everyday life through discounts and exclusive offers, member only grant fund, community support and more. Sign up today for £1 a month.
Andy Burnham has said he is “not squeamish” about reducing the welfare bill. However, he rejected the traditional Westminster approach of using crude, short-term benefit cuts.
As reported by the Financial Times, Burnham’s alternative is a preventative state that tackles underlying problems through investment in areas such as housing, employment and devolved public services.
His argument is that cutting benefit rates may create immediate savings on paper, but can push people further into poverty and increase spending elsewhere.
Someone who loses essential financial support may require greater help from the NHS, social care, housing services, food banks or local councils.
For disabled people, the important question is not simply whether welfare spending falls. It is how those savings are achieved and what happens to people’s health, finances and independence along the way.
A preventative welfare state aims to address problems before they become more serious, damaging and expensive.
Under a reactive system, support often arrives only after someone has reached breaking point.
This could mean waiting until a person:
By this stage, the person has already experienced significant harm. The cost to public services is also likely to be much higher.
A preventative system would intervene earlier through:
The aim would be to help people remain healthier, safer, employed and independent for longer.
This does not mean every disabled person can or should be expected to work. It means people should not be prevented from working, studying or participating in their communities because essential support was unavailable.
Prevention must be more than a political slogan. It requires investment in the systems that disabled people depend on every day.
Waiting years for an assessment, diagnosis or treatment can allow manageable health difficulties to become much more serious.
Long waits for autism and ADHD assessments can leave people without appropriate educational or workplace support. Delayed treatment for neurological, musculoskeletal and mental health conditions can also affect someone’s ability to remain in work.
A preventative approach would provide support based on need while people are waiting, rather than expecting them to struggle until a formal diagnosis is secured.
It would also recognise that receiving a diagnosis does not automatically lead to treatment, equipment or practical support.
The government’s official Access to Work guidance says the scheme is designed to help disabled people start or stay in work. It can fund practical support, specialist equipment, support workers and some disability-related travel costs.
However, the value of that support is significantly reduced when people wait months for an assessment or decision.
A person may lose their job while waiting for the adjustment designed to keep them in it.
A genuinely preventative system would:
The objective should be to prevent avoidable job loss, not offer support after someone has already left employment.
There is a widespread misconception that the NHS provides every disabled person with the wheelchair or mobility equipment they need.
In reality, eligibility criteria and local provision can vary. Some people receive equipment that does not fully meet their needs, while others fundraise or pay privately for suitable powered, lightweight or specialist wheelchairs.
An unsuitable wheelchair can contribute to:
Providing the right wheelchair at the right time should be viewed as preventative healthcare, not an optional extra.
The correct equipment can help someone leave their home, travel independently, remain employed and avoid preventable physical complications.
Relatively small home adaptations can make the difference between independence and needing extensive care.
A ramp, stairlift, accessible bathroom, widened doorway or level-access entrance could help prevent:
However, people can face long waits for occupational therapy assessments, planning decisions and Disabled Facilities Grant work.
A preventative welfare state would treat accessible housing as essential infrastructure. Adaptations would be completed before someone is injured or can no longer manage at home.
Accessible employment support is of limited value when someone cannot reliably reach their workplace.
Broken lifts, inaccessible stations, a lack of staff and unreliable passenger assistance can exclude disabled people from work, education, healthcare and social life.
Research examining the economic impact of inaccessible transport has highlighted how removing barriers could increase disabled people’s participation in the economy.
As we explain in our guide to the economic cost of inaccessible transport, accessibility should not be treated only as an expense. It is an investment that can increase independence, employment and wider economic activity.
Prevention must also include properly funded social care.
Restrictive eligibility rules and inadequate care packages can leave disabled people without enough support to eat, wash, leave home or work. Unpaid carers may also reach exhaustion because formal support is unavailable.
Waiting until a family reaches crisis is neither humane nor economical.
Early, flexible social care can help disabled people remain independent while protecting the health, finances and employment of family carers.
People frequently face long waits for therapy and specialist mental health services. Support may only become available after their condition has become severe.
Early intervention could reduce the risk of crisis care, hospital admission, homelessness or job loss.
However, prevention must not become an excuse to suggest that mental health conditions are always temporary or easily resolved. Some people will continue to need long-term financial and practical support.
Burnham has announced that VAT on household electricity bills in Great Britain will fall from 5% to 0% for six months from 1 October 2026. The reduction will be applied automatically by energy suppliers, including for households on fixed tariffs.
The government has described the change as being worth around £45 when expressed as a reduction in the annual price cap. However, because it will currently apply for only six months, the average household is expected to receive closer to £25 during the scheme itself.
That works out at roughly £4 a month. It is a saving, but it does not put a meaningful amount of money back into most household budgets.
Disabled households may save slightly more where electricity use is higher. Many people rely on powered wheelchairs, mobility scooters, stairlifts, adjustable beds, ventilators, oxygen concentrators, medication refrigeration or temperature-control equipment. Others spend more time at home or need to keep their property at a consistent temperature because of their health.
Because VAT is calculated as a percentage of the electricity used, households with higher consumption will generally receive a larger cash saving. However, higher usage also means those households are paying substantially more in the first place.
The cut only applies to electricity, not gas. This matters for disabled people whose main additional cost comes from keeping their home warm using a gas boiler. It will also not necessarily mean that bills fall overall, as changes to wholesale costs and the energy price cap could offset some or all of the VAT reduction.
Against Scope’s Disability Price Tag figure of £1,095 in additional costs every month, a saving of around £25 over six months is extremely limited. For some people, that amount would not cover a week of charging essential equipment, one accessible taxi journey or a small part of an increased heating bill.
The VAT reduction will happen automatically, but it is still worth checking whether your current tariff and supplier remain suitable for your household. Compare the unit rate, standing charge, exit fee and expected annual cost rather than looking only at the monthly Direct Debit amount.
Eligible Purpl members can currently access a £50 Octopus Energy account credit. That is twice the estimated average saving from the six month VAT reduction, although you should always compare the full tariff before changing supplier. The cheapest or most appropriate option will depend on your usage, meter, payment method and need for any specialist support.
Members can also explore Purpl’s current utility, broadband and household offers. Offers can change, so check the latest terms and make sure any switching reward does not distract from a tariff that could cost more over the longer term.
You can also read our guide to reducing the disability price tag on household bills, which covers energy support, water bills, broadband social tariffs and other ways to reduce essential monthly costs.
Contact your energy supplier and ask to join the free Priority Services Register if someone in your household is disabled, has a long term health condition, uses essential medical equipment or needs additional support during a power cut.
Depending on your circumstances and supplier, support may include accessible communications, help reading your meter, a nominated contact, additional help during outages and information about financial assistance. Registration does not guarantee an uninterrupted supply, so households using essential equipment should still discuss emergency plans with their healthcare and energy providers.
It is also worth checking:
Time-of-use tariffs are not automatically suitable for disabled households. Someone who must run essential equipment or heating at particular times may be unable to move their usage into cheaper periods.
Anything that reduces essential bills is welcome. However, this VAT cut should be viewed as short-term help rather than a solution to disability-related energy poverty.
Improving public services is essential, but it does not remove the extra costs of being disabled.
Even in a society with excellent healthcare, fully accessible transport and inclusive workplaces, many disabled people would still face higher everyday expenses.
These can include:
According to Scope’s latest Disability Price Tag research, disabled households need an additional £1,095 each month on average to achieve the same standard of living as non-disabled households.
The limited value of the electricity VAT cut helps illustrate this. A household may receive a few pounds back each month while continuing to face hundreds or even thousands of pounds in unavoidable disability-related costs.
PIP is not an out-of-work benefit. It is not means-tested and can be claimed by eligible people who are employed.
Its purpose is to contribute towards the additional costs associated with a health condition or disability. It does not replace wages, treatment, social care or accessible public services.
Prevention may help reduce future public spending, but PIP helps people manage costs they face today.
True reform requires both:
Removing the second while promising to improve the first would not be prevention. It would simply transfer more costs onto disabled people and their families.
Success should not be judged only by whether the Treasury spends less during a particular financial year.
A preventative welfare state should be measured by whether disabled people experience better health, greater independence and fewer unnecessary barriers.
People would receive diagnoses, treatments, rehabilitation and therapies before their health deteriorates further.
Workplace support would be approved and delivered quickly enough to prevent job loss.
Disabled people would not have to become housebound or crowdfund for essential wheelchairs and mobility equipment.
Housing adaptations would be completed before a fall or hospital admission. Public transport would allow disabled people to travel independently and reliably.
People would receive enough flexible support to live safely, work where possible and participate in their communities.
People with progressive, lifelong or non-reversible conditions would not be repeatedly required to prove that they remain disabled.
Longer awards and proportionate reviews could reduce administrative costs while protecting claimants from avoidable stress.
Employment outcomes would improve because barriers had been removed, not because people had been threatened with sanctions or the loss of essential income.
Fewer disabled households would be forced to choose between heating, food, care, medication and mobility.
Short-term measures such as removing VAT from electricity may offer limited breathing space. However, lasting reform would need to make essential energy genuinely affordable for people whose disability means they cannot simply reduce their usage.
That is a far more meaningful measure of success than simply moving money out of one government budget.
“As someone living with MS, I know first-hand that disabled people do not want to depend on benefits. We want the barriers removed so that we can live our lives, contribute and remain as independent as possible.
Prevention must not become another excuse for reducing the support disabled people rely on.
True prevention means providing the right healthcare, equipment, housing and support before someone reaches crisis. It also means recognising that many disability-related costs do not disappear, no matter how accessible society becomes.
The removal of VAT from electricity bills is welcome, particularly for people who rely on essential electrical equipment. But an average saving of around £25 over six months does not give much back when disabled households face such significant extra costs every month.
We need immediate help with bills alongside longer-term action. That means fair benefits, affordable energy, accessible services and practical ways for people to reduce their household spending.
Investing in disabled people benefits everyone. Cutting support and leaving people to deteriorate simply moves the cost somewhere else.”
Georgina, Founder of Purpl
A preventative welfare state invests in early support to stop health, financial and social problems from escalating.
This could include faster healthcare, accessible housing, workplace adjustments, mobility equipment, social care and mental health services.
The aim is to reduce avoidable crises and help people retain their health, independence and employment where possible.
Reactive welfare responds after someone has reached crisis point. Preventative welfare aims to provide support earlier.
For example, a reactive system may fund hospital treatment after a fall. A preventative system would provide the home adaptation or mobility equipment that could have prevented the fall.
No specific disability benefit cuts have been announced by Andy Burnham.
He has said that he wants to reduce overall welfare spending, but has rejected crude, short-term reductions to benefit rates. His stated approach focuses on preventative services, employment support and early intervention.
Any future proposals would need to be examined carefully to understand how they might affect PIP, Universal Credit and other disability-related support.
VAT on household electricity bills in Great Britain will be temporarily reduced from 5% to 0% for six months from 1 October 2026. The reduction should be applied automatically by suppliers.
The government has described it as reducing the annual price cap by around £45. Because the measure will currently apply for six months, the average direct saving during that period is expected to be approximately £25. Actual savings will depend on how much electricity the household uses.
Some may save slightly more because they use more electricity for heating, mobility aids, medical equipment or spending additional time at home.
However, this reflects the fact that their electricity costs are already higher. The policy does not provide targeted additional help based on disability or medical need.
No. The announced temporary reduction applies to household electricity bills, not gas. Households that mainly use gas for heating may therefore receive less benefit than those with electric heating or high electricity use.
No. The reduction should be applied automatically by energy suppliers to eligible household electricity bills in Great Britain.
Eligible Purpl members can currently access a £50 Octopus Energy account credit. Always compare the unit rates, standing charge, exit fees and expected annual cost before changing supplier.
Purpl members can also explore current utility and household essential offers through the Purpl website and app. Offers and terms may change.
The Priority Services Register is a free service for people who may need extra help because of disability, illness, age or another vulnerable circumstance.
Support can include accessible communications, help with meter access, a nominated account contact and additional assistance during power cuts. Contact your energy supplier or local network operator to register.
It should not.
Some disabled people cannot work. Others may only be able to work limited or flexible hours, or may need substantial support.
A fair preventative system would remove barriers for people who can and want to work while protecting those who cannot. Employment should not be treated as the only valid measure of someone’s contribution or independence.
Better services could reduce some costs over the longer term.
Prompt healthcare, suitable equipment, accessible housing and workplace adjustments may prevent avoidable job loss, hospital admissions and larger care requirements.
However, prevention requires upfront investment. Savings may take years to appear and should not be used to justify immediate cuts to financial support.
PIP contributes towards the additional daily living and mobility costs associated with disability.
Accessible healthcare and transport may reduce some expenses, but they do not remove costs such as increased energy use, care, specialist equipment, dietary requirements, mobility aid maintenance and accessible travel.
PIP can also be claimed by eligible people who work.
No. PIP is not an unemployment benefit and it is not means-tested.
Eligibility is based on how a long term health condition or disability affects someone’s daily living and mobility. A person can work, have savings or live with a working partner and still qualify.
It should not.
Public services and disability benefits serve different purposes. Accessible healthcare, housing and transport remove structural barriers. Benefits such as PIP contribute towards the extra costs that remain.
A preventative system that removed financial support before improving services would risk pushing disabled people further into poverty.
Access to Work can fund specialist equipment, workplace support, transport and other adjustments.
When support arrives quickly, it can help a disabled employee remain in their role. When decisions take months, the person may become unwell, take extended leave or lose their job before help arrives.
Removing delays should therefore be a central part of any preventative employment strategy.
The correct wheelchair can reduce pain, pressure damage and falls. It may also help someone work, study, attend appointments and manage daily activities independently.
Unsuitable or delayed equipment can increase hospital admissions, care needs and reliance on family support.
Providing appropriate equipment early may therefore protect both the individual’s health and public services.
Home adaptations can prevent falls, injuries and avoidable moves into residential care.
Changes such as ramps, stairlifts, accessible bathrooms and widened doorways can allow someone to remain safely in their own home.
Providing adaptations early is often less disruptive and less expensive than responding after someone has been injured or lost their independence.
Inaccessible transport can prevent disabled people from reaching work, education, healthcare and essential services.
Someone may be able to work but remain excluded because stations, buses or assistance services are unreliable.
Improving accessibility can increase employment and community participation while reducing dependence caused by environmental barriers.
Yes. The Timms Review is examining how PIP could work more fairly and effectively for disabled people.
The review is considering evidence about assessments, fluctuating conditions, independence and the wider role of PIP. The interim report set out emerging themes rather than final recommendations.
The government published the Timms Review interim report in July 2026. It sets out evidence, emerging themes and the review’s next steps, but it does not yet make final recommendations.
Claims that specific PIP changes have already been confirmed should therefore be treated cautiously.
Yes, if financial support is cut before effective services are put in place.
Genuine prevention requires investment. Disabled people should experience faster healthcare, accessible housing, timely equipment and better employment support before politicians claim that reduced benefit spending represents success.
The key question is whether people are receiving earlier, better support or simply being given less money.
Success should be measured through real-life outcomes, including:
A lower welfare bill alone does not prove that reform has worked.
Andy Burnham’s argument that welfare spending should be reduced through prevention rather than crude cuts deserves serious consideration.
Investing earlier in disabled people’s healthcare, housing, equipment, social care, transport and employment support could prevent avoidable crises. It could also help more people remain independent and stay in work where that is right for them.
His temporary removal of VAT from household electricity bills provides an early example of his cost-of-living approach. Disabled households with high electricity needs may receive slightly more help, but an average saving of around £25 over six months does not meaningfully address the scale of the disability price tag.
However, prevention must never become another word for austerity.
Better public services will not remove the disability price tag. Disabled people will continue to need reliable, fair financial support to meet costs that non-disabled households do not face.
A truly preventative welfare state must provide both:
It must also recognise that some energy use is essential and cannot safely be reduced. Short term bill reductions are welcome, but they are no substitute for affordable energy, targeted support and fair disability benefits.
Reducing spending by improving people’s lives is a worthwhile ambition.
Reducing spending by making disabled people poorer is not reform.
Georgina is the Founder of Purpl, a disabled-led UK discount platform created to help disabled people, people with long term health conditions, carers and families reduce the extra cost of disability.
Living with Multiple Sclerosis herself, Georgina uses lived experience to create practical, honest and accessible guidance that helps the Purpl community save money, understand their rights and feel less alone when navigating benefits, household bills and disability-related costs.
Purpl works with trusted brands to provide verified discounts for eligible members and reinvests 20% of brand media and advertising spend into the Purpl Community Grant Fund.
Exploring your options? Check out The Purpl UK Disability Benefits and Support Handbook
Why disabled households face £1,095 additional monthly costs: https://www.purpldiscounts.com/blog/disability-price-tag-uk
Why accessible transport is an economic emergency: https://www.purpldiscounts.com/blog/accessible-transport-uk-economy-176-billion
Access to Work delays: https://www.purpldiscounts.com/blog/access-to-work-waiting-times-37-weeks
PIP changes and the Timms Review: https://www.purpldiscounts.com/blog/timms-review-pip-interim-report-2026
Purpl Community Grant Fund: https://www.purpldiscounts.com/disability-grants-uk
Get the current £50 Octopus Energy credit through Purpl, subject to eligibility and terms: https://www.purpldiscounts.com/brand/octopus-energy