Earlier today, the Chancellor announced Budget 2026.
While many of the headline measures focused on easing cost of living pressures, several stand out to us because of their potential impact on health, wellbeing and inequality.
At Everyturn, we know that mental health doesn’t exist in isolation. Through our crisis services, we regularly see people struggling with debt, housing insecurity, benefit issues and the wider pressures that can push people into crisis. Of the 147,434 appointments we delivered since August 2025, almost every person we supported cited debt, financial difficulties, housing issues or benefits as practical support they needed help with.
A fairer deal for carers, but not soon enough
We welcome the confirmation that the Carer’s Allowance earnings “cliff edge” will be removed. Under the current system, carers can lose all of their allowance if they earn just above the earnings threshold. The new tapered approach is much fairer and should help prevent people from being penalised for taking on additional work.
However, we’re disappointed that this change is not expected to be introduced until 2030/31. For the many carers who have faced financial hardship under the current system, that’s simply too long to wait.
The delay means many carers will continue to face a system that has caused hardship and uncertainty for years. Reports suggest around 180,000 carers accumulated debts between 2019 and 2025 due to the previous rules, highlighting the urgent need for change.
Investment in ending rough sleeping
We also welcome the announcement of an additional £432 million to support efforts to end rough sleeping, building on previously committed funding.
The connection between homelessness and poor health outcomes is well established. Alongside the physical health challenges associated with rough sleeping, we see first-hand through our Safe Haven services and wider work how housing insecurity and homelessness can have a devastating impact on mental health.
Investment that supports people into safe, stable accommodation is also an investment in prevention, recovery and better health outcomes.
Energy support must deliver real savings
Measures including the £100 energy support payment, continued VAT relief on electricity and the removal of gas standing charges should help ease some pressure on households.
However, the removal of standing charges will only make a real difference if suppliers don’t simply add those costs to unit prices. As winter approaches, it’s essential that support is delivered fairly and reaches the people it is intended to help.
Health investments should improve people’s access, experience and outcomes
We welcome the government’s independent review into NHS productivity, especially the opportunity to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can improve people’s access to services, their experience of support and their health outcomes. Mental health must be included in its scope. The review should consider how AI can be safely and ethically used in mental health services to reduce the risk of people turning to tools independently to manage their mental health. It should also build on excellent practice already emerging across the country. This includes tools like Limbic Access, used across our NHS Talking Therapies services to improve people’s access to psychological therapies.
We believe that improving productivity shouldn’t just mean doing more with less. It should create opportunities for further investment in the NHS 10 Year Health Plan‘s neighbourhood health commitments, helping people get support earlier and closer to home. Investment in voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations must be central to this.
The government’s plans to transform community spaces through the Derelict Buildings Fund, and earlier commitments this year to create 27 new neighbourhood health centres, offer opportunities to put this approach into practice. We urge the government to ensure these investments enable charities and public services to share health and community spaces to work together, making it easier for people to access joined-up support in their communities.
We also welcome the additional £190 million investment to reduce NHS winter pressures. This funding should be used to help strengthen and expand genuine alternatives to A&E for people experiencing a mental health crisis.
Tackling health inequalities remains critical
One of the most encouraging moments surrounding today’s Budget came during wider discussions on public services and inequality. Prime Minister Andy Burnham highlighted the continued relevance of The Marmot Review: Fair Society, Healthy Lives, describing it as the blueprint for closing health inequality gaps.
That sentiment strongly resonates with Everyturn’s own ambitions. Our 10-year strategy is built on a belief that good mental health is about more than access to services. It’s shaped by the homes people live in, the opportunities available to them, the strength of their communities and the inequalities they face. That’s why we’re working towards a future where fewer people reach crisis point in the first place, through a greater focus on prevention, early support and tackling the root causes of poor health.
We were also struck by Andy Burnham’s wider comments that “private interests” should never be allowed to dominate over the public interest. While the prime minister was talking about the water industry, this principle that matters just as much in social care, mental health and the wider support people rely on every day.
Kevin Berry, Everyturn’s Executive Director of Finance & Performance, commented:
Today’s Budget was lacking in significant healthcare announcements but includes some welcome steps on supporting the daily challenges faced by many. Real progress won’t be measured by announcements, it will be measured by whether more people can stay warm, keep a roof over their heads, balance caring responsibilities with work, and access the support they need to live healthier, happier lives.
When people have secure housing, financial stability, meaningful support and opportunities to thrive, better mental health follows. We’ll continue championing the policies and partnerships that help make that future a reality.