Rising energy prices have the potential to devastate the budgets of families on the lowest incomes. Help is available for some via their energy supplier or government grants and support.
Winter Fuel Payment
If you were born on or before 26 September 1955 you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills.
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual one-off payment to help you pay for heating during the winter.
You will get your Winter Fuel Payment automatically (you do not need to claim) if you’re eligible and either:
- get the State Pension
- get another social security benefit (not Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit)
If you do not get either of these, or if you live abroad, you may need to make a claim.
If you’ve got a Winter Fuel Payment before, you do not need to claim again unless you’ve deferred your State Pension or moved abroad.
For more info go to https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment
Warm Home Discount Scheme
You could get £140 off your electricity bill for winter 2021 to 2022 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The money is not paid to you – it’s a one-off discount on your electricity bill, between October and March.
You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity. Contact your supplier to find out.
There are 2 ways to qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme:
- getting the guarantee credit part of Pension Credit
- on a low income
For more info go to https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme
Cold Weather Payments
Cold Weather Payments are one-off payments to help you pay for extra heating costs when it’s very cold.
You’ll get a payment each time the temperature drops below a specific temperature for a set period of time. You’ll get £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.
You’ll only be eligible if you already get:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit
For more info go to https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment
Grants to help pay off your energy debts
If you’re in debt to your energy supplier, you might be able to get a grant to help pay it off.
The following energy suppliers offer grants to their customers:
- British Gas Energy Trust – apply for a grant on the British Gas Energy Trust website
- Scottish Power Hardship Fund – apply for a grant on the Scottish Power Hardship Fund website
- Ovo Energy Fund – apply for a grant on the Ovo Energy Fund website
- ON Energy Fund – apply for a grant on the E.ON Energy Fund website
- ON Next Energy Fund – apply for a grant on the E.ON Next Energy Fund website
- EDF Energy Customer Support Fund – apply for a grant on the EDF Energy Customer Support Fund website
- Bulb Energy Fund – apply for a grant on the Bulb Energy Fund website
If you can’t get a grant from your supplier, check if you can get a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust. These grants are available to anyone – you don’t have to be a British Gas customer.
We hope the above is useful for some of our local families. The information has been collected from multiple websites and is given in good faith. Application or acceptance is subject to status, all information is true as of 15/02/2022.
