Energy Grants Available to Disabled People
If you live with a disability and receive certain benefits, you can access multiple energy grants and support schemes in 2026. Disability benefits such as PIP, DLA, Attendance Allowance, and ESA (support group) are qualifying benefits for the UK's main energy efficiency programmes. Here's a summary of what's available:
| Scheme | What You Get | Who Qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| ECO4 | Free insulation, boilers, heat pumps | PIP, DLA, Attendance Allowance, or ESA (support group) + means-tested benefit |
| GBIS | Free insulation | Council tax bands A-D (no benefits needed) |
| Warm Home Discount | £150 off electricity bill | Disability benefit + means-tested benefit |
| Winter Fuel Payment | £200-£300/year | State Pension age + qualifying benefit |
| Priority Services Register | Priority support from energy supplier | Any disability, chronic illness, or additional need |
| Disabled Facilities Grant | Up to £30,000 for home adaptations | Disabled residents (means-tested) |
ECO4 — Free Home Improvements Through Disability Benefits
ECO4 is the UK's main energy efficiency scheme, running until March 2026. If you receive a qualifying disability benefit, you can get completely free home improvements including:
- Loft insulation — save up to £590/year on energy bills
- Cavity wall insulation — save up to £395/year
- Solid wall insulation — save up to £475/year
- Boiler replacement — new A-rated condensing boiler
- Air source heat pump — low-carbon heating system
- Underfloor insulation — for suspended timber floors
Which Disability Benefits Qualify for ECO4?
The following disability benefits qualify you for ECO4 when received alongside a means-tested benefit (such as Universal Credit, Income Support, Housing Benefit, or Pension Credit):
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) — daily living or mobility component
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) — care or mobility component
- Attendance Allowance — higher or lower rate
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) — support group (income-related ESA qualifies on its own)
Your home must have an EPC rating of D or below. Most older properties in the UK meet this requirement. Check your eligibility now.
Important: If you receive income-related ESA (support group), you qualify for ECO4 without needing any additional benefit. Income-related ESA is a means-tested benefit in its own right. If you receive contribution-based ESA, you will need an additional qualifying benefit.
Warm Home Discount — £150 Off Your Electricity Bill
The Warm Home Discount provides a one-off £150 discount on your electricity bill each winter. You may qualify through the "core group 2" if you receive a disability benefit alongside a means-tested benefit and your energy costs are high relative to your income. Your energy supplier uses DWP data to determine eligibility — in most cases, you'll receive a letter telling you that you qualify.
If you receive Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit) alongside your disability benefit, you'll be in core group 1 and receive the discount automatically.
Priority Services Register — Free Support for Disabled People
The Priority Services Register (PSR) is a free service that everyone with a disability should know about. It's not a grant, but it provides vital support from your energy supplier and local network operator. Once registered, you receive:
- Priority support during power cuts — your supply is restored first
- Advance notice of planned outages — so you can prepare
- Accessible communications — bills in large print, braille, or audio
- Meter reading appointments — at times that suit you
- Nominee scheme — a trusted person can manage your account
- Password protection — to verify anyone visiting your home is genuine
To join the Priority Services Register, contact your energy supplier directly. Registration is free and there are no eligibility checks — you simply need to have a disability, chronic illness, or additional communication needs.
Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) — No Benefits Needed
Even without any disability benefit or means-tested benefit, you may qualify for free insulation through GBIS. If your home is in council tax bands A-D, you can get free loft insulation or cavity wall insulation regardless of income. This scheme has no means test for the council tax band pathway.
Disabled Facilities Grant — Home Adaptations
The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) provides up to £30,000 in England (£36,000 in Wales) for essential home adaptations. While this primarily covers accessibility improvements such as ramps, stairlifts, and wet rooms, it can also fund heating system improvements where they are essential to your disability needs — for example, upgrading an inadequate heating system that affects your health.
Apply through your local council's housing or environmental health team. The grant is means-tested for adults but not for children.
How to Apply for Energy Grants
The quickest way to check your eligibility for all available energy grants is to use our postcode checker. You'll need:
- Your postcode
- Details of which benefits you receive
- Your energy supplier name
- Whether you own or rent your home
If you're a tenant, your landlord will need to give consent for any work to be carried out, but you can start the application yourself.