Apply For Energy Bill Support If You Do Not Get It Automatically

Government launches portal for 900,000 additional GB households to apply for £400 payments towards energy bills

Households without a direct relationship to a domestic electricity supplier will be able to apply for government support with their energy bills from today

With government energy bill support covering roughly half of typical winter bills, ministers urge over 900,000 households eligible for the £400 lump sum to apply as soon as possible

A telephone helpline is also available from today for people without access to the internet to apply for the payment

900,000 more households across England, Scotland and Wales will benefit from the government’s £400 help with energy bills, as an online application portal opens today.

Households without a direct relationship to an electricity supplier, such as those living in park homes and care homes, can now apply via a secure online portal to receive the support as a one-off, non-repayable lump sum under the ‘alternative funding’ route of the government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS AF). For those without online access, a dedicated customer helpline is available to assist eligible customers.

The launch of applications follows months of close work with stakeholders across the country to deliver the government’s help for households with the cost of living. The alternative funding route is the latest in a range of targeted measures which are covering around half of a typical household’s energy bills this winter.

To ensure people feel the benefit of this support as quickly as possible, the payment will be provided directly into people’s bank accounts. Over £7.2 billion has been provided so far to 97% of households across England, Scotland and Wales through monthly instalments, which most households receive automatically in the same way they pay these bills.

The alternative funding route is designed to make sure the same level of support reaches those without a direct relationship to an electricity supplier. It’s also available for households who get their energy through a commercial contract or who are off-grid.

Ministers are today urging all eligible households to apply as soon as possible for their support, whilst also warning households to stay alert to potential scams and report them to relevant authorities where they are suspected.

There’s a different way to apply for energy bill support in Northern Ireland.

www.gov.uk/apply-energy-bill-support-northern-ireland-if-not-automatic

There’s a different way to apply for energy bill support in England, Scotland and Wales.

www.gov.uk/apply-energy-bill-support-if-not-automatic