Little-known way you can get up to £1,500 to help pay for energy bills – how to apply
ENERGY bills will fall for millions of households this summer – but it’s always worth seeing if you can get extra help.
On Thursday the energy regulator Ofgem announced the new price cap which will see the average annual bill fall by £426 from July 1.
It means the average household on a dual fuel tariff paying by direct debit will be forking out £2,074 a year from this date.
But that will still leave gas and electricity bills around £700 more expensive for the average household compared to 2021.
So it’s worth seeing where you can save money while other costs, such as food, remain so high.
For example, you might not know you can receive grants from energy companies if you are struggling to pay your bills.
In some cases, you can receive up to £1,500 free money as well, so it’s it’s definitely worth looking into.
Here we detail four providers offering such help to customers.
British Gas – up to £1,500
Customers with British Gas, one of the UK’s biggest energy providers, can get grants worth up to £1,500 to help cover bills.
It comes via the British Gas Energy Trust support fund, which has already helped more than 10,000 customers since it was launched.
You don’t have to be a British Gas customer to apply but the amount you receive is dependent on your circumstances.
You must live in England, Scotland or Wales and be in debt on your gas, electric or both to qualify.
You can’t have received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust within the last two years if you’re not a customer and in the last 12 months if you are.
For non-customers, you need to have received help from a money advice agency and have less than £1,000 in savings.
You can apply via the British Gas website.
EDF
EDF offers grants and support to customers facing financial difficulties.
The energy company also provides help buying white goods which can help customers reduce their bills in the long term.
White goods are appliances such as fridges and washing machines.
You can also get a cash grant from EDF if you are an existing customer and signed up to the Priority Services Register.
The Priority Service Register is open to those of state pension age who are disabled or sick or considered “vulnerable” by their energy provider.
Once you’ve done this and the firm has assessed your eligibility, you’ll be able to apply for an energy grant.
You’ll need your EDF account number to hand and current energy debt balances ready, along with details of your household finances.
The amount you will get depends on your circumstances.
Scottish Power – up to £750
Scottish Power, another of the “big six” energy providers, offers grants worth up to £750 for struggling customers through its Hardship Fund.
You qualify if you are receiving certain benefits, including:
- Income Support
- Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
- Pension Credit
- Employment and Support Allowance
You might also qualify if you have a low household income, or you have seen your income drop due to illness.
There are two options when it comes to applying:
- Contact a registered debt advice agency such as StepChange on 0800 138 1111 who can offer details on the Scottish Power Hardship Fund
- Apply via Sigma Connected Support which administers the grants on Scottish Power’s behalf on 0121 285 2595.
Whether you’ll receive the full £750 grant depends on your circumstances and level of need.
Octopus Energy – £100s
Octopus Energy, which was only founded in 2015, offers customers in need grants worth potentially £100s via its Energy Assist Fund.
You might even be able to borrow a thermal imagery camera to find heat leaks at home that can save you money if fixed as well.
Plus, the provider offers home energy visits where company employees discuss how you might be able to reduce your usage.
Again, what specific help you can get varies depending on your circumstances. You can apply on Octopus Energy’s website.
What other help can I get paying for my energy bills?
You might be able to get help paying for energy bills beyond provider grants.
Councils across England are offering tens of thousands of households free money or vouchers to help with the cost of everyday living.
It comes via the Household Support Fund, which is worth £842million.
But what you get depends on where you live as each council has been given a unique share of the pot.
Thousands of households in Wokingham can get £100 in free cash to pay for food or energy bills.
Meanwhile, thousands in Medway can get up to £210 to cover the cost of gas and electricity.
If you are on a prepayment meter and can’t afford to top up, you might be able to get a fuel voucher.
You can use it to add credit to your gas card or electricity key.
You should be able to apply via your local council – if you don’t know yours you can find it by using the Government’s council locator tool.
It’s always worth checking if you are eligible for Government benefits too – billions of pounds worth goes unclaimed each year.
You can use benefits calculators to see what help you might be entitled to. The following websites have useful ones: