Struggling to pay your energy bills?
If you’re struggling to pay your energy bills, we recommend speaking to your supplier and asking for:
- A review of your payments and debt repayments. (Ofgem rules mean the repayment plans must be affordable for you).
- A payment break or reduction
- More time to pay
- Access to a hardship fund
- Advice on how to use less energy
If you can’t agree a way to pay, contact the Citizen Advice Bureau on 0808 223 1133.
If you’re on a pre-payment meter and can’t afford to top it up, ask your supplier if they will give you emergency credit.
Some energy suppliers offer grants to their customers to help clear energy debts. If you need help with this, contact the Money Advice Team - their contact details are at the bottom of this page.
There are a variety of discounts and schemes that you might be eligible for, which will help you to save money.
Cost of Living Payments 2023-2024
The government has announced when further Cost of Living Payments will be made between spring 2023 and spring 2024.
If you’re eligible, you’ll be paid automatically in the same way you’re usually paid your benefit or tax credits. This includes if you’re eligible for a Cost of Living Payment or a Disability Cost of Living Payment later.
You could get up to three different types of payment, depending on your circumstances on a particular date or during a particular period:
- A Cost of Living Payment up to £900 if you get a qualifying low income benefit or tax credits.
- A £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment, if you get a qualifying disability benefit.
- A Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, up to £300, if you’re entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2022 to 2023.
Currently, it’s unknown when these payments will be made, but they will be spread across a longer period to make sure you receive support throughout the year. They will be roughly:
- £301 – First Cost of Living Payment – during spring 2023
- £150 – Disability Payment – during summer 2023
- £300 – Second Cost of Living Payment – during autumn 2023
- £300 – Pensioner Payment – during winter 2023/4
- £299 – Third Cost of Living Payment – during spring 2024
The Warm Home Discount
If eligible, you could have a one-off £140 payment applied to your electricity bills. Available for people on a low-income or pension, this scheme helps people to cover their energy costs over winter.
If you have never received the Warm Homes Discount before or by December 2022, and receive Pension Credit, then ring the Warm Home Discount team on 0800 731 0214.
Not all suppliers take part in this scheme, so contact yours to see if they can help.
Cold Weather Payment
Depending on what benefits you claim, and if the weather in your area was below zero degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days, you might be able to apply for a Cold Weather Payment.
There is no need to apply. The payments are made automatically through your benefits.
Winter Fuel Payments
If you were born on or before 26 September 1956 you could get £250 to help you pay your heating bills. You will get your Winter Fuel Payment automatically (you do not need to claim) if you’re eligible.
Energy provider trust funds
If you've found yourself in debt trying to meet your gas or electric bills, you might be able to apply for a grant to reduce the amount you owe them.
If you receive your gas or electric from any of the following, we recommend you get in touch with them and ask them about their trust fund.
- British Gas Energy Trust
- OVO Energy Fund
- Charis: Lets Talk Energy Fund (they will also consider customers of OVO (including OVO Energy, Scottish Power first, SSE and Boost)
- EDF Energy Customer Support Fund
- E.ON Energy and E.ON Next Funds
- Scottish Power Hardship Fund
If your provider isn't listed above, you can apply to the British Gas Energy Trust.
Energy Bill Support Scheme
Under the Energy Bill Support Scheme, your energy bill will be cut by £400. This will be applied over six months, with a reduction of £66 in October and November, and £67 each month between December and March 2023.
If you have a pre-payment meter, you’ll be sent a voucher each month. The first vouchers were sent in the post, by email or text in October 2022. You should receive a voucher by the 17th of each month.
You need to redeem these within three months of them being issued. We’re unsure how easy it will be to claim for expired vouchers. So we recommend using your vouchers when you receive them,
Not received your voucher?
If you’ve not received your voucher, it might be that your energy supplier doesn’t have your correct contact information. We recommend contacting them to check. It might also be that you’ve been sent it by post and not opened the letter.
How to redeem the voucher
Take the voucher to a Post Office or PayPoint shop (not Payzone) - the voucher should say where it is redeemable. If a PayPoint shop refuses to redeem the voucher, then try a different shop.
You will need to have ID with you, such as a bill or bank statement, but we recommend a passport or driving licence.
If you’re unable to get to a Post Office, someone else should be able to redeem your vouchers for you. They will need ID for themselves as well as for the person the voucher was sent to.
Beware of Scams
Ignore any text messages asking you to click a link to apply for your £400 payment, These are a scam.
Get support from our Money Advice Team
Our Money Advice Team can help you make the most of your money and help with any money or debt worries. From reviewing your energy bills, working out a weekly or monthly budget or checking your entitled to benefits, the team is here to support you.
If you need advice on any rent issues email hello@staffshousing.org.uk and one of our income officers or money advisers will call you back within 24 hours (Mon-Fri).
