News - End Fuel Poverty Coalition

Cold crisis as one in three struggle to heat their homes

Figures show that 29% of adults are unable to keep their home at the recommended minimum temperature of 18°C, the level advised by World Health Organisation experts to reduce the risk of illness.

Reports in the Express reveal that among those affected are around 3.2m (23%) older people (aged 65+) who say they struggle to keep their home warm enough.

As energy bills remain 69% higher than in winter 2020, the End Fuel Poverty Coalition polling from Opinium shows that the problem is particularly acute among households on incomes below £40,000 and people living with long-term health conditions, including lung conditions and physical disabilities.

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, commented:

“It’s shocking that after years of warnings, so many people are still stuck in homes that put their health at risk. No one should be facing winter worried about whether their home is warm enough.

“We urgently need to see further action to bring down the cost of energy in the new year, especially on electricity which is homegrown and should be much cheaper than it currently is.

“One sign of hope is that we know that households are taking action to look at how they can make their homes more energy efficient, but they need help to do this. Every week of delay to the Government’s much promised Warm Homes Plan means households are stuck in cold, damp homes for longer.”

Charlotte Higgins is retired and lives in Solihull in the West Midlands and had energy-saving measures fitted by the Solihull Household Support Fund. She said: “The loft insulation has been done, and I’ve had solar panels on the front and the back. It’s made a difference to my heating, and my bills are a lot cheaper.”

Jan Shortt, General Secretary of the National Pensioners Convention said: “With energy bills hundreds of pounds a year higher than they were in 2020, there is a real danger of older people falling ill through living in cold, damp homes.

“Whilst some older people receive the winter fuel payment, others do not. Some receive the warm homes discount on their bill, others do not. Even with this small income, it is hard to keep a house warm in really cold, wintry weather.

“The cost of energy has another cost – that of overflowing A&E departments, wards and GP surgeries. Not being able to heat your home does not just mean you are susceptible to colds and flu but also to respiratory conditions, heart disease, arthritis and other health conditions that demand individuals keep warm.

“We need to ensure that everything is being done to insulate homes, find alternative and sustainable sources of energy.”

Carbon monoxide problems more common in fuel poor homes

Households living in cold and damp homes are far more likely to report experiencing dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, according to new research, raising fresh warnings about the hidden safety risks facing people in fuel poverty.

Figures from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition show that 18% of people who say they live in a cold, damp home have had issues with high levels of carbon monoxide in the past 12 months, compared with just 7% of UK adults overall.

Carbon monoxide, which is colourless, odourless and potentially fatal, is produced by faulty or poorly ventilated gas appliances. Campaigners say people struggling to heat their homes are more likely to be exposed to risk, as unaffordable repair costs, ageing boilers and attempts to retain heat by blocking ventilation combine to create dangerous conditions indoors.

The research also shows that certain groups were significantly more likely to report carbon monoxide problems, particularly those facing additional housing and financial pressures. Reports were especially prevalent among 18 to 34-year-olds (16%) and households with children under 18 (11%).

Safety concerns are further compounded by a lack of basic protection, with almost one in three members of the general public (31%) saying they do not have a working carbon monoxide detector in their home.

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said the findings showed how unsafe housing conditions and poverty are putting lives at risk:

“The fact that people living in cold and damp homes are significantly more likely to experience carbon monoxide problems exposes a deadly intersection between poverty, poor housing and our continued reliance on gas. People in fuel poverty are more likely to be trapped in older, badly maintained or poorly ventilated properties, dramatically increasing the risk of carbon monoxide exposure.

“In rented accommodation tenants may feel unable to report safety concerns for fear of eviction or rent rises. That creates a toxic situation where serious hazards go unreported, life-threatening faults remain unfixed and vulnerable households are left exposed to an invisible killer.

“Ending fuel poverty is not just about lowering bills. It means tackling unsafe housing, strengthening tenants’ rights and moving away from fossil fuel systems that put people’s health at risk every winter.”

Campaigners say the findings strengthen the case for targeted investment in warm, well-ventilated homes and affordable clean heating systems, warning that without action, fuel poverty will continue to expose millions to avoidable health dangers behind closed doors.

Jade Monroe, Senior Project Manager at Students Organising for Sustainability, commented:

“Research shows that 59% of students’ say they feel uncomfortably cold and 54% say they have damp or mould in their rented student accommodation. We know that living in these conditions already puts undue pressure on students’ health and wellbeing and so it is worrying to hear that there is the additional risk of carbon monoxide exposure. We want to see fuel poverty reduced and vulnerable tenants protected, and that means making significant investment to improve accommodation in the private rented sector.”

All households should follow basic Government advice to ensure they remain safe from carbon monoxide. If carbon monoxide build up is suspected, follow advice from Energy UK and contact the Gas Emergency Service (24 hours) on 0800 111 999.

The public should remain vigilant for signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, such as:

headache / dizziness
feeling or being sick
feeling weak
confusion
chest and muscle pain
shortness of breath

If carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected follow NHS advice and contact 111 or 999.

ENDS

Opinium conducted an online survey of 2,000 UK adults between 25th and 27th November 2024. Results have been weighted to be nationally representative. Opinium is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

Secret court hearings continue to punish homes in energy debt

Three years on from the scandal that exposed the forced installation of prepayment meters into people’s homes, a new year-long investigation by The Standard reveals that energy companies are still relying on closed magistrates’ court hearings to secure warrants against households with unpaid bills, often without customers present or represented.

The investigation also found that one magistrate examined ten warrant applications in detail as a ‘sample’ which would then determine the fate of other applications in the batch. But while two of the sample were found to breach procedural rules and withdrawn, two new applications that passed scrutiny were added and the remaining warrants were approved in bulk without further checks.

This implies that no effort was made to establish whether similar failings affected the rest of the applications.

In November 2023, when the new court process was being developed, End Fuel Poverty Coalition wrote [pdf] to Ministers to raise concerns that a “cloak of secrecy” appeared to have remained in place.

Following media reports about the behaviour of one firm, the letter set out that “the same old magistrates’ practices seem to have continued.”

“Distant hearings, nodding through batch applications, not checking for vulnerability and a failure to inform customers that they are due to have their case heard. No one can be confident of getting justice under the current system.”

In response to the latest investigation by the Standard, a spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition commented:

“This investigation exposes a deeply troubling practice where people struggling with unaffordable energy bills are condemned through the courts out of sight and without a voice.

“At a time when energy bills remain far higher than before the crisis, it is wrong that households are facing secret hearings and forced entry instead of meaningful support. This is not a failure of the individual customers, it is a failure of our energy system.

“It’s time to stop criminalising energy debt and allowing these cases to be pursued through a court system which is clearly unfit for the purpose. Instead, we need action to fix the causes: reforming energy pricing so bills are affordable, providing targeted financial support for households in cold, damp homes, and rolling out insulation and energy efficiency upgrades starting with those most at risk.

“No one should fear court action or forced entry simply because they cannot afford to heat their home.”

Subscribe to our Substack alerts now

Cold homes figures revealed as Warm Homes Plan is delayed further

Five years into the energy bills crisis, millions of people are still living in cold, damp homes that are making them ill and putting avoidable pressure on the NHS. New polling shows that while headline numbers have barely shifted, people with health conditions and renters remain far more likely to be stuck in unsafe housing, with damp and mould a daily reality for many.

Against this backdrop, the media is reporting that the long-awaited Warm Homes Plan will now be delayed until the New Year. A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, commented:

“Every week of delay to the Warm Homes Plan means households are stuck in cold, damp homes for longer.

“And every week of delay also means more pressure on the NHS as it has to deal with the health consequences of people living with mould and cold, and delays mean more uncertainty for supply chains who deliver energy efficiency measures.

“After five years of the energy bills crisis and 18 months of a Government elected to deliver a comprehensive Warm Homes Plan, people cannot wait indefinitely for a clear strategy to make homes warmer, safer and cheaper to heat.

“The government must urgently set out when the Warm Homes Plan will be published and, crucially, how it will prioritise support for those in the coldest and most unhealthy homes.

“Warm homes are not a nice-to-have. They are a basic right and a public health necessity.”

Millions still living in cold, damp homes as health inequalities continue

Millions of people across the UK are still living in cold, damp homes, with new research showing that those with existing health conditions remain far more exposed than the general population, deepening health inequalities and adding pressure to the NHS. [1]

As energy bills remain 69% higher than in winter 2020, the latest End Fuel Poverty Coalition polling for 2025 finds that 14% of adults say they live in a cold, damp home, which remains broadly in line with 2023 and 2024 (16%). However, there are stark disparities affecting vulnerable groups.

People with health conditions are significantly more likely to say they live in cold, damp homes in 2025, with rates rising to 22% for people with lung conditions and 25% for people with mental health conditions. The figure also remains high for people with other long-term conditions such as motor neurone disease, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, at 24%.

Housing tenure also continues to play a major role. One in five renters in the private rented sector say they live in poor conditions.

In cold and damp homes, the presence of mould is an almost ever present issue. More broadly among the general public, the 2025 research shows that 26% of adults report mould in their homes frequently or occasionally in the last 12 months, only a slight fall from 29% in both 2023 and 2024.

People with health conditions face elevated levels (32%), with in particular people with mental health conditions (35%), being more likely to report mould.

With over two fifths (41%) of people still worried about being cold this winter due to the energy crisis, the findings have raised concerns among campaigners that without targeted action, avoidable housing-related illness will continue to burden the NHS, particularly during winter months.

Eilidh Weir is a mother of two who rents a home in Buchlyvie, Scotland. She said: “There’s nothing more miserable than being skint in a cold, damp house.

“I’m a private rental tenant and I used to have storage heaters, but I didn’t use them because they were too expensive. When I found out I was eligible for an air source heat pump to be installed, completely free, I felt really, really pleased that I was able to access that without having a high wage.

“My kids notice the house is cosier now. Being able to make better choices shouldn’t be just for those that have higher incomes.”

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, commented:

“Five years into the energy bills crisis and households are still waiting for a comprehensive Warm Homes Plan which will set out how people can improve the energy efficiency of their properties and reduce their energy use in a safe way.

“Given the well publicised failings of the previous Government’s insulation schemes, we now need to move even faster to catch up and help people stay warm every winter and cool every summer.

“Meanwhile, for many households, the research highlights the vicious cycle where cold and damp housing worsens existing health conditions, increasing energy needs and making homes harder to heat. This in turn drives further ill health and greater pressure on healthcare services.

“The data underlines the need for long-term solutions that address housing quality and energy affordability together, rather than relying on short-term crisis support, to prevent cold and damp homes becoming a permanent driver of poor health and rising public costs.”

Tom Darling, Director at the Renters’ Reform Coalition, said:

“We know that private renters are more likely than other groups to be living in homes with damp or with serious health risks. It’s shocking that so many people are living in homes that put their life at risk – and totally unacceptable that many landlords are profiting from them.

“The government must set out when they will apply Awaab’s law to the private rented sector, as they recently have for social tenants, and finally impose a legal duty on landlords to address dangerous housing conditions within a specific timeframe. Every month without action will see more people harmed by unhealthy homes.”

Andrew McCracken, Director of External Affairs at Asthma + Lung UK, said:

“Millions across the UK are living in homes that could be damaging their health. Cold, damp homes are much more likely to develop mould which can lead to life-threatening flare ups for people with lung conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cause lung conditions in previously healthy individuals. With rising fuel costs and a cost-of-living crisis, too many vulnerable people are being forced to live in unsafe conditions.

“The Government must deliver its Warm Homes Plan with a focus on sustainable heating, well-fitted insulation, and effective ventilation, so that no one has to choose between affordable heating and breathing in clean air. Poor lung health has the closest link with deprivation of all the major health conditions and the UK, shamefully, has the highest death rate in Europe for respiratory conditions.

“We desperately need urgent Government action to support warm homes and protect the health of the most vulnerable people in our society.”

ENDS

[1] Data from Opinium Research. Opinium is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

In 2024, there were 55,022,253 people aged 18 plus in the UK according to ONS. 14% of this figure is 7.7m.

COLD DAMP HOMES
Group	2025	2024	2023
All adults (headline)	14%	16%	16%
Renter (LA)	20%	27%	23%
Private renter	20%	24%	25%
Renter (HA)	13%	21%	19%
Parent with child under 18	17%	22%	20%
Heart condition	17%	25%	24%*
Lung condition	22%	21%
Physical disability	18%	18%
Mental health condition	25%	24%
Other long-term condition	24%	21%

MOULD FREQUENTLY OR OCCASIONALLY
Group	2025	2024	2023
All adults (headline)	26%	29%	29%
Renter (LA)	37%	36%	30%
Private renter	32%	33%	42%
Renter (HA)	30%	35%	37%
Parent with child under 18	29%	35%	35%
Heart condition	31%	23%	36%*
Lung condition	31%	32%
Physical disability	28%	28%
Mental health condition	35%	39%
Other long-term condition	34%	39%
People living in cold, damp homes	75%	73%	78%

* This percentage is of those that had a health condition.

2025: Opinium conducted an online survey of 2,000 UK adults between 25th and 27th November 2025. Results have been weighted to be nationally representative.

2024: Opinium conducted an online survey of 2,000 UK adults between 22nd and 26th November 2024. Results were weighted to be nationally representative.

2023: Opinium conducted an online survey of 2,000 UK adults between 24th and 28th November 2023. Results were weighted to be nationally representative.

Grid reform is welcome, but must not become a blank cheque

Ofgem and the National Energy System Operator have announced the biggest shake-up of Britain’s grid connections process to date, prioritising “shovel-ready” renewable projects and clearing out speculative or stalled applications.

But with network firms and energy generators having made billions during the energy crisis, much of it flowing to offshore ‘vampire funds’, campaigners are demanding a just transition that puts people before profits, a focus on community energy projects and delivering fairer bills for households.

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, commented:
“Reforming the grid connection system a necessary move that will help unlock cheaper, cleaner, homegrown energy and bring us closer to an energy system that ends fuel poverty.

“But faster grid access must be matched by real accountability for how network firms and energy generators spend and profit. These companies have made billions during the energy crisis — with profits flowing to offshore investors and so-called ‘vampire funds’.

“This reform must not become an excuse for blank cheque infrastructure spending that inflates standing charges while delivering poor value for households.

“And it must be a fair process, so it’s not just a case of those projects with a healthy lobbying budget get preferential treatment. Community energy projects, which deliver cheaper power for customers and have local control and accountability built in, must not be excluded or pushed to the bottom of the queue.

“To truly fix Britain’s broken energy system, we need grid reform, fair pricing, investment in energy efficiency and a social tariff to ensure the transition benefits everyone — not just big investors.”

Grid investment is vital, but not at any cost

Ofgem has announced that £28bn will be spent over the next five years on Britain’s gas and electricity networks, but this could rise to £90bn.

Overall, Ofgem estimates that the net increase in bills to cover costs by 2031 will be around £3 per month. But this could be more in the short-term, falling in the longer term. Of the initial money announced, the majority of the funding (£17.8bn) will go towards maintaining Britain’s ageing gas networks.

The End Fuel Poverty Coalition profits tracker estimated that over £50bn of profits have been generated by electricity and gas transmission and distribution firms since 2020.

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, commented:

“With the North Sea running out of gas and after years of under investment, upgrades to Britain’s energy grids are vital to ensure a reliable energy supply and to help homes benefit from renewables as they come online.

“But that shouldn’t mean signing a blank cheque for network and transmission companies. These vast sums of essentially public money must come with proper scrutiny and guarantees for consumers.

“These firms have already made billions in profits during the energy crisis, with significant returns flowing to offshore investors and so-called ‘vampire funds’.

“Households can’t keep footing the bill while private equity profits. Every penny added to customers’ bills must be spent delivering clear value for money and actively helping to reduce the cost of energy in the long-term and ensure energy security.”

Budget brings cut to bills but “no one can warm their home with headlines”

The Government’s Autumn Budget will bring a modest reduction in energy bills next spring, but fuel poverty campaigners warn that a real terms cut in wider efficiency funding risks locking millions of people into cold, damp homes for years to come.

End Fuel Poverty Coalition (EFPC) initial analysis suggests the average annual energy bill will fall to around £1,665 from 1 April 2026, down from £1,755 today. That compares with £1,042 in January 2021, before the energy crisis, and £1,568 in July 2024, showing bills remain far above pre-crisis levels.

However, the Chancellor again failed to set out a plan to introduce a social tariff which would provide a discount on bills to those households who most need support with energy costs, including those with disabilities and health needs which rely on energy use. Campaigners have also expressed concern about the cumulative impact of potential tax rises which they fear could outweigh the savings elsewhere for households.

EFPC coordinator Simon Francis said any reduction in bills was welcome, but warned that the Budget falls far short of what is needed to end fuel poverty:

“Any reduction in energy bills will be welcome as households face their fifth winter of the energy costs crisis and the Government is right to be investing in the Warm Homes Plan to help improve the energy efficiency of peoples’ homes.

“But no one can warm their home with Budget headlines, and the Chancellor’s statement also highlights the scale of the challenge.

“Even with the changes announced, we expect that from April 2026, average energy bills will still be hundreds of pounds higher than they were in winter 2020/2021 and £97 higher than at the General Election.

“The millions of households who will still be struggling with the cost of energy need further bold action from the Government in reform of energy pricing, targeting energy bill support at those who need it, delivering on a new fuel poverty strategy and in creating an ambitious Warm Homes Plan to upgrade cold, damp homes.

“And we’d also urge the Chancellor to address a c.25% projected shortfall in total energy efficiency funding in future Budgets after the ECO scheme is scrapped.”

Scrapping ECO “blows a huge hole” in fuel poverty plans

Alongside the modest bill cut, the Budget confirmed that the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) – the UK’s only national fuel poverty scheme outside the social housing sector – will end next April, with no full replacement programme yet announced.

And although the Chancellor increased the Warm Homes Plan budget to almost £15bn to partially compensate for this, fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA) warned this leaves the UK without a credible plan to end fuel poverty.

Chief Executive Adam Scorer said the Budget “has blown a huge hole” in government strategy:

“Despite the welcome news that the two-child benefit cap is being scrapped and £150 lifted from energy bills, the Budget has blown a huge hole in the government’s strategy to tackle fuel poverty.

“By scrapping the ECO scheme with no successor and no Warm Homes Plan yet in sight, the Treasury has removed the only national scheme focused on fuel poor homes, outside of the social housing sector… Without large-scale retrofit of our leaky homes, there is simply no route to ending fuel poverty in the long term.”

Environmental think tank E3G also warned that ending ECO will hurt both families and jobs. Senior Researcher James Dyson said that:

“It will also cost 10,000 jobs and prevent 1 million families from insulating their homes in the next 4 years. The Chancellor must reverse this cut and reform the scheme to maximise energy savings for the fuel poor.”

Fuel Poverty Action’s Jonathan Bean also highlighted that work to repair botched retrofit still left households in need of help:

“The small reduction in electricity pricing still leaves it four times more expensive than gas. This makes electric heating unaffordable, and risks the health and lives of over a million vulnerable people.

“Instead of announcing emergency funds to fix homes damaged by botched retrofit work, the Government has cut budgets. Victims are being left suffering in dangerously cold, damp and mouldy homes this winter.”

Groundwork, a national charity supporting those suffering the worst effects of fuel poverty through their network of ‘Green Doctor’ energy advisers, warned the need for targeted support for those who need it most remains, regardless of the promise of lower fuel bills.

Groundwork national Chief Executive Graham Duxbury said: “Despite the welcome news of cuts to fuel bills announced by the Chancellor, there will still be an urgent need to ensure those who live in the coldest, dampest homes, or who already have significant levels of energy debt, get the targeted help and support they so desperately need. Now that the Chancellor has scrapped the ECO scheme, it is all the more important that the new Warm Homes Plan prioritises support to vulnerable customers.”

Fair By Design, which campaigns to end the “poverty premium” in essential services, used a reaction thread on X to highlight that the Budget does little to fix structural unfairness in energy pricing, and reiterated its calls for targeted bill support and fairer standing charges for those on low incomes.

Older people: “Budget should have been time to address pensioner poverty”

Older people’s organisations said the Budget was a missed opportunity to tackle pensioner poverty and the specific risks older people face from high energy costs.

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, warned that the freeze on income tax personal allowances for a further three years will “drag more older people into paying income tax”, including some on low and modest incomes, at a time when prices for essentials are constantly rising. While she welcomed continuation of the Triple Lock and exploratory moves to simplify tax processes for older people on the State Pension, she said:

“Energy bills are a huge worry for many older people and so any additional help from the Government is very welcome. However, we note that the decision announced today of reducing energy costs by £150 next April will coincide with the planned abandonment of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) programme, forcing the Warm Homes Plan to stretch its budget much further than intended.

“Looking at the overall impact of all these measures in the round leads us to the view that the Government should be doing more to help with energy costs – which will still be higher than when they entered power in 2024. There was also no more money for the Crisis and Resilience Fund at a time when we’re hearing from lots of desperate older people who will be facing another tough winter.”

Independent Age Chief Executive Joanna Elson CBE said the Government had “missed an opportunity” to address pensioner poverty, which affects almost two million older people:

“While we welcome the continuation of the Triple Lock, this alone does not go far enough in supporting older people on the lowest incomes who are not washing to save on water, seeking out warmth in public places and limiting themselves to just one small meal a day.

“We continue to urge the UK Government to increase the Warm Home Discount, support older private renters by uprating Local Housing Allowance so no one has to make dangerous sacrifices to pay their rent, and boost income through a comprehensive entitlement take-up strategy.

“Our research shows that without decisive government intervention, pensioner poverty could almost double by 2040. Worryingly, nothing in this Budget suggests we are steering away from this alarming trajectory.”

Children’s organisations hail “momentous” decision on Two-Child Limit

One of the most widely welcomed announcements in the Budget was the decision to scrap the Two-Child Limit to benefit payments.

The End Child Poverty Coalition called it “momentous news”:

“This is momentous news for the 350,000 children who will be lifted out of poverty by this change to policy and the 700,000 more who will be in less deep poverty. It is these children for whom life will hopefully feel a little easier, who may be able to dream a little bigger, and feel less different to their peers as a result.”

Moazzam Malik, CEO of Save the Children UK said that it was “the single most powerful step to reduce child poverty in a generation.”:

“Every child deserves a childhood free of poverty. For too long, children have been penalised by this pernicious policy, through no fault of their own. This announcement sends a clear signal that all our children’s lives are valued regardless of the circumstances of their birth and that the UK Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life. This is a moment of hope for hard up families.”

Campaigners stressed, however, that while this change will significantly reduce income poverty for many families, those benefits need to be matched with action to ensure homes are warm, safe and affordable to heat. Malik added: “We look forward to working with the UK Government to build on this announcement and the forthcoming child poverty strategy to tackle issues that hold too many families back.”

Health: budget relief welcomed, but warnings over worsening illness and unmet care needs

Health, disability and social care organisations warned that the Autumn Budget fails to address the deep and growing links between fuel poverty, poor health and rising pressure on frontline services.

Marie Curie said that while additional NHS funding and plans for new Neighbourhood Health Centres were welcome, terminally ill people remain overlooked. Toby North, Head of Public Affairs England at the charity, said:

“People facing terminal illness are overlooked time and time again by politicians and policy makers, leaving too many dying in avoidable pain, poverty and alone.

“We welcome more investment for the NHS, plans for 250 new Neighbourhood Health Centres across England, and a potential £150 average reduction in household energy bills. But more needs to be done specifically to support dying people.

“The UK Government must ensure NHS funding reaches services that support dying people. Palliative and end of life care has to be at the centre of plans for neighbourhood health services, and we urgently need more targeted support to protect terminally ill people from spiralling energy bills and poverty at the end of life.”

Disability Rights UK struck a far sharper tone, warning that political decisions are actively making people more ill. Responding to the Budget, the organisation said the country is now “living in an era of sickness caused by political choices”, driven by low incomes, insecure housing, high energy and food costs, and overstretched health and care services.

The organisation warned that disabled people already make up three-quarters of food bank users, and said the Budget offered nothing meaningful to address the causes of rising ill health. It criticised the continued rationing of schemes such as Access to Work, changes to Motability, and further reforms to disability benefits, arguing these measures place the burden on disabled people rather than addressing systemic barriers in workplaces, transport and public services.

Disability Rights UK said that while the abolition of the two-child benefit cap was long overdue, this alone was “a drop in the ocean” given the wider lack of investment in social care, housing and healthcare, adding that the Budget risks deepening hardship and worsening health outcomes for disabled people.

Concerns were also raised by the Social Workers Union (SWU), which warned that the absence of new funding for social care will intensify existing pressures across the system. SWU General Secretary John McGowan said:

“I welcome a number of poverty-reducing measures in the Autumn Budget, including the removal of the two-child benefit cap, but I am profoundly disappointed by the omission of social care.

“No additional funding for social care means a sector already cut to the bone by austerity will be further stretched and expected to absorb additional costs. Chronic underfunding continues to impact social workers and the people we support, leaving us to shoulder rising pressures.”

McGowan called on the Government to invest in social care urgently and to use the Casey Commission to deliver meaningful reform to adult social care in England, warning that delaying action yet again risks destabilising the entire care system.

Together, organisations said the Budget underlines a growing disconnect between measures aimed at easing short-term costs and the failure to address the health consequences of cold homes, low incomes and inadequate care. They warned that without targeted support for people with serious illness, disabled people and those relying on social care, pressures on the NHS and social services will continue to grow — with avoidable human and economic costs.

Housing sector: Warm Homes Plan must now deliver

The housing sector welcomed emergency action on bills but warned that cutting or repurposing energy efficiency funds could undermine long-term progress.

Gavin Smart, Chief Executive at the Chartered Institute of Housing, said:

“We welcome the Chancellor’s recognition that direct action was needed to reduce bills after years of persistently high costs that have forced many into impossible choices. However, cutting billions of pounds previously allocated to making homes permanently warmer risks weakening the long-term solution to fuel poverty and putting supply chains and jobs at risk.

“We now need the government to publish its Warm Homes Plan, setting out how the £14.7 billion in capital funding will be allocated, confirming future energy efficiency standards in both rented sectors, and taking further steps to make clean heating more affordable.”

Scotland: funding squeeze

In Scotland, the real terms reduction in the funding available for vital energy efficiency measures will be felt most heavily. Energy Action Scotland Chief Executive Frazer Scott used a post on X to underline that the Budget has not shifted the dial on affordable energy and highlighted specific concerns about the end of ECO funding:

“Energy Company Obligation going reduces spending in Scotland by £400-500million to 2030 on energy efficiency improvements. Something like 25,000 homes. No mitigation for this loss.”

The End Fuel Poverty Coalition spokesperson added that they would urge the Chancellor to address this with receipts from the Windfall Tax:

“The Chancellor was right to maintain the Energy Profits Levy and then reform it after the current period ends. Given tax rises elsewhere in the budget, it would have been perverse to have then handed a tax break to companies that have already made extraordinary profits during the crisis. But we now need to see the energy efficiency shortfall in Scotland and Wales addressed.”

Energy Profits Levy retained as households still face high bills

The Chancellor’s decision to keep the Energy Profits Levy has been met with fierce opposition from parts of the energy industry, despite falling revenues from the tax.

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition commented:

“The Chancellor was right to maintain the Energy Profits Levy and then reform it after the current period ends. Given tax rises elsewhere in the budget, it would have been perverse to have then handed a tax break to companies that are making extraordinary profits during the crisis.

“Given that the North Sea will naturally run out of gas, more drilling won’t make energy cheaper or the country more energy secure. But as the gas industry declines, it is vital that workers and communities affected by the changing energy mix are properly supported.

“Even with the changes announced in the Budget, we still expect that from April 2026, average energy bills will be hundreds of pounds higher than they were in winter 2020/2021.

“And in Scotland, we will see a real terms reduction in the funding available for vital energy efficiency measures with the scrapping of the ECO levy, which we would urge the Chancellor to address with the receipts from the Windfall Tax.

“The millions of households who will still be struggling with the cost of energy need further bold action from Governments in Westminster and Holyrood in reform of energy pricing, targeting energy bill support at those who need it, and in creating an ambitious Warm Homes Plan to upgrade cold, damp homes.”

Energy bills to fall next spring, but cold homes remain a national challenge

Today’s Budget brings a modest but welcome reduction in energy bills. After five turbulent years, any drop in costs offers relief to households who have been stretched to breaking point. Our analysis suggests the average bill will fall to around £1,665 from April 2026 — a step in the right direction and recognition that further action on affordability is needed.

But the job is far from done. Bills will still be significantly higher than before the crisis and the UK now faces a 25% shortfall in energy efficiency funding with the end of the ECO scheme. Without restoring long-term investment in warm homes and reforming the way energy is priced, millions will continue to face unnecessary hardship.

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition commented:
“Any reduction in energy bills will be welcome as households face their fifth winter of the energy costs crisis and the Government is right to be investing in the Warm Homes Plan to help improve the energy efficiency of peoples’ homes.

“But no one can warm their home with Budget headlines, and the Chancellor’s statement also highlights the scale of the challenge.

“And we’d also urge the Chancellor to address a c.25% projected shortfall in total energy efficiency funding in future budgets after the ECO scheme is scrapped.”

* End Fuel Poverty Coalition estimates based on the current price cap, the Ofgem 1 January price cap announcement, industry analysts forecasts and the Chancellor’s statement / Budget documents. Price cap comparison points:

01/01/2021 — £1,042
01/07/2024 — £1,568
01/10/2025 — £1,755
01/01/2026 — £1,758
01/04/2026 — £1,665