Support with energy bills

If you are in arrears with your heating bills, you can also get help by contacting DIAL. Call the DIAL team on 01493 856900 to see if they can help you manage your money.

Keep visiting this page for our latest information on what support is currently available.

The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) is providing support of £400 for energy bills for households in England, Scotland, and Wales 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 EBSS AF, you will need to fill out a short online form via the GOV.UK website.

This form can be found by entering "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 0808 175 3287 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, that will deliver the one-off, non-repayable support. The payment will be made directly into your bank account in a single instalment.

Further information can be found on GOV.UK.

In addition to the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF), the government has also announced the Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) scheme.

This is for households that use alternative fuels (such as heating oils) to heat their homes and are not present on the mains gas grid.

This will be a one-off payment of £200. The government has yet to announce the timing, and who will be involved in the delivery, of this scheme.

This page will be updated when more information is available.

Both the standard and discretionary support schemes have now closed.

You may find the following helpful:

• GOV.UK: Energy bills support factsheet