Cost of Living Support

Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency

Energy Bills Support Scheme - Alternative Funding

This fund is aimed at providing support to households not eligible for the automatic Energy Bills Support Scheme GB (£400 payment paid by energy suppliers). Eligible households in England, Scotland, and Wales include those without a direct relationship to a domestic electricity supplier. This support is provided by His Majesty’s Government and is delivered by local authorities. The scheme is now open to all eligible households across Great Britain until 31 May 2023.

Eligibility

Subject to applications meeting the eligibility criteria, people who will be able to receive support under EBSS AF include:

• care home residents and others in care facilities/sheltered accommodation (wholly or partly self-funded)

• park home residents, houseboats and caravans that can provide proof of address

• social and private tenants who pay for energy through a landlord on a commercial supply

• homes on a heat network/private wire

• off-grid homes

• farmhouses used for wholly domestic purposes

How to apply

If you are eligible for the EBSS AF payment of £400, you will need to fill out a short online form via the GOV.UK website. This form can be found by searching “Apply for energy bill support if you do not get it automatically” into the search bar on GOV.UK or an internet search engine. Applications are made directly to His Majesty’s Government, not to or via Local Authorities. If you do not have online access, you can apply via a contact centre on 08081753287 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm) where a representative will guide you through the application process. Once you have applied, your application will be processed and verified. After this if your application is successful, your details will be shared with local authorities, who will deliver the one-off, nonrepayable support. The payment will be made directly into your bank account in a single instalment.

Further information can be found on GOV.UK.

 

The Alternative Fuel Payment – Alternative funding.

If you use alternative fuels for heating, you may be eligible for a payment of £200 if the following apply:

  • your household is not connected to main gas grid and
  • you use alternative fuels as the main form of heating

This payment is on top of the payment of £400 that you may have received from your electricity supplier.

You may be entitled to the payment if the main way that you heat your home is

  • tank or bottled Gas
  • liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)
  • oil
  • wood
  • solid Fuel

You will more than likely receive the payment automatically onto your electricity bill From February 2023.

However, you may not get the payment automatically as a credit on your electricity bill if your home is either

  • in an area which is mainly connected to the gas grid.
  • you are not connected to either a gas or electricity grid.

If you have not received the payment automatically, you can apply for the discount on the Gov.uk Website by searching ‘Apply for Alternative Fuel Bill support if you do not get it automatically’ into the search bar on GOV.UK or an internet search engine. Applications are made directly to His Majesty’s Government, not to or via Local Authorities. If you do not have online access, you can apply via a contact centre on 0808 175 3943(Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm) where a representative will guide you through the application process. Once you have applied, your application will be processed and verified. After this if your application is successful, your details will be shared with local authorities, who will deliver the one-off, nonrepayable support. The payment will be made directly into your bank account in a single instalment.

Further information can be found on GOV.UK.

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Home Energy Upgrade Scheme

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy funded grants to help homeowners and landlord make energy efficiency improvements.

Properties must have an Energy Performance Certificate rating of E, F or G and a household income of less than £30k per year to be eligible.

Residents can contact Yes Energy solutions online or by calling 03309 126 199.

The Simple Energy Advice website has advice on ways to save energy, such as:

  • insulating your loft and cavity walls
  • draught-proofing windows and doors
  • upgrading your boiler
  • installing double glazing
  • using alternative sources of energy, such as solar power

You can also find out if you’re eligible for a home energy grant to help pay for things like loft and cavity wall insulation.

Use the Energy Efficiency Calculator for personalised advice on what you can do to cut your energy bills.

 

Energy Saving Trust

Advice on how to save money on energy bills and access to help to pay energy bills.
 

National Energy Action 

National charity working to end fuel poverty who offer a new Warm and Safe Homes Advice available on webchat (1pm - 4pm) and helpline 0800 304 7159 (Monday to Friday 10am -12pm).

Energy Suppliers Offering Hardship Funds

The bigger energy firms all have charitable trusts and funds that can help if you’re in debt and struggling to pay your bills.

You need to be a customer of the firm to apply and usually you need to have spoken to a debt adviser before you can apply for these schemes:

This page was last updated 15 March 2023.