Energy Bill Support Schemes UK — Current Help Available

Energy bills remain a concern for many households. Here’s all the help currently available.

Current Energy Support Schemes

Overview of 2024/25 Support

Scheme	Who For	Amount
Winter Fuel Payment	Pensioners	£100-£300
Warm Home Discount	Low income, certain benefits	£150
Cold Weather Payment	Certain benefit recipients	£25 per week
Household Support Fund	Low income (via council)	Varies
Supplier hardship funds	Struggling customers	Varies

Winter Fuel Payment

What It Is

Feature	Details
Annual payment	For winter heating
Who gets it	People over State Pension age
Amount	£100-£300
Automatic	For most eligible people

Payment Amounts

Situation	Amount
Born before 23 September 1958, living alone	£200
Born before 23 September 1958, with partner same age	£200 (shared)
Aged 80+	Additional £100
In care home	£150

Eligibility Changes 2024

Change	Details
Now means-tested	In some cases
Linked to	Pension Credit receipt
Check	gov.uk for current rules

How You Get It

Method	Details
Automatic	If receiving qualifying benefits
Paid	November/December
Into	Same account as pension/benefits

Warm Home Discount

What It Is

Feature	Details
One-off discount	On electricity bill
Amount	£150
When applied	October-March
Who pays	Your electricity supplier

Core Group 1 (Automatic)

Eligible If…	Details
Receiving Pension Credit Guarantee Credit	As of certain date
Energy supplier participates	Most large suppliers
Payment	Automatic, no application

Core Group 2 (May Need to Apply)

Eligible If…	Details
On certain benefits	And high energy costs
Low income	Below threshold
Property type	High energy cost property
Assessment	By DWP

How to Get It

Situation	Action
Core Group 1	Automatic — letter confirms
Core Group 2	May be automatic or need to apply to supplier
Check with supplier	If unsure

Cold Weather Payment

What It Is

Feature	Details
Payment	£25 per 7-day cold period
Triggered	When temperature forecast is 0°C or below for 7+ days
Automatic	No claim needed
Multiple payments	Possible in very cold winter

Who Gets It

Eligible If Receiving…	And…
Pension Credit	Any component
Income Support / JSA / ESA (income-based)	With certain premiums or elements
Universal Credit	With certain elements

Elements/Premiums That Qualify

Benefit	Qualifying Element
UC	Limited capability for work, child under 5
IS/JSA/ESA	Disability premium, pensioner premium, child under 5

How You Receive It

Method	Details
Automatically	Based on your postcode
Into	Normal benefits account
Timing	Within 14 days of cold spell

Household Support Fund

What It Is

Feature	Details
Government funding	To local councils
Purpose	Help with essential costs
Includes	Energy bills, food, essentials
Discretionary	Councils decide criteria

How to Apply

Step	Action
1	Contact your local council
2	Explain your situation
3	Council assesses need
4	Support provided if eligible

What’s Covered

May Help With	Details
Energy bills	Direct payments
Food	Vouchers or bank payments
Essential items	Clothing, household goods
Water bills	Some councils

Supplier Support

Hardship Funds

Supplier	Fund
British Gas	British Gas Energy Trust
EDF	Energy Support Fund
EON	EON Energy Fund
Scottish Power	Hardship Fund
Octopus	Grants available

How to Access

Step	Action
1	Contact your supplier
2	Explain financial difficulty
3	Ask about hardship fund
4	May need to apply separately

Other Supplier Support

Support	Details
Payment plans	Spread debt
Priority Services Register	Extra help if vulnerable
Benefit entitlement checks	Supplier may help
Energy efficiency advice	May be available

Other Help

Charitable Grants

Organisation	Who They Help
British Gas Energy Trust	All, not just BG customers
Turn2us	Grant search tool
StepChange	Debt advice + grant connections
Charis Grants	Various utility grants

Energy Efficiency Schemes

Scheme	Details
ECO4	Free insulation, boilers for eligible households
Great British Insulation Scheme	Insulation for certain homes
Boiler Upgrade Scheme	Heat pump grants (different eligibility)

Priority Services Register

What It Is	Details
Free service	From suppliers
Who for	Disabled, chronically ill, elderly, vulnerable
Benefits	Priority reconnection, meter reading help, bill in accessible format
How to join	Contact your supplier

If You’re Struggling to Pay

Steps to Take

Step	Action
1	Contact supplier before missing payments
2	Ask about payment plans
3	Request hardship fund information
4	Check benefit entitlement
5	Apply for Warm Home Discount if eligible
6	Contact local council (HSF)

Your Rights

Right	Details
Can’t be cut off	If vulnerable (on Priority Services Register)
Payment plans	Supplier must offer affordable options
Can’t force prepayment meter	New rules on forced installation
Debt repayment	Must be affordable

Summary: Energy Help Checklist

Check Eligibility For

Scheme	Who Should Check
Winter Fuel Payment	Over State Pension age
Warm Home Discount	Low income, Pension Credit
Cold Weather Payment	On qualifying benefits
Household Support Fund	Anyone struggling
Supplier hardship fund	Anyone in debt/difficulty

Key Actions

Action	Why
Check benefit entitlement	May unlock other support
Join Priority Services Register	If vulnerable
Contact supplier early	Before debts grow
Apply for Warm Home Discount	Before deadline
Check council support	HSF and local schemes

Useful Contacts

Service	Contact
Citizens Advice	0800 144 8848
Winter Fuel Payment Centre	0800 731 0160
Turn2us (grant search)	turn2us.org.uk
Your council	For HSF
Your energy supplier	For hardship help

Don’t struggle in silence — help is available but you usually need to ask or apply.