Families and businesses in Northern Ireland were offered cost-of-living relief in Budget 2026, HM Treasury said in a news story published on 28 October 2026. Chancellor John Healey announced the removal of the 4% tariff on kerosene, which the government says will support the 61% of households in Northern Ireland that rely on heating oil.

The 5p cut to fuel duty will be extended for six months, until 30 June 2027, and the 3.7p cut to red diesel duty continues. Tariffs were also removed from over 100 food products, including chocolate and fruit juice; combined with earlier suspensions, the government says this will save households up to £21 annually. The National Living Wage rises 3.9% to £13.21 per hour, with corresponding increases for younger workers and eligible apprentices. The government says roughly 40,000 low-income pensioners in Northern Ireland will pay less tax, or none, on State Pension income by the end of this Parliament.

The Northern Ireland Executive will receive an additional £270 million for public services over the Spending Review period, on top of £740 million provided through Budget 2025 and Spring Forecast 2026. Growth measures include £7.5 million for Queen's University Belfast's CSIT Cyber AI Hub and £1 million for a Northern Ireland Investment Summit. The Budget also fully funds a £15 billion Defence Investment Plan, which the government says supports 1,000 industrial jobs in Northern Ireland, up 25% since 2025.