You should have had a £400 discount to help with your energy bills over winter 2022 to 2023. You do not have to pay this money back. This is called the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS).
If you live in a park, mobile home or off the electricity grid
The way you get energy support will be different if you do not have a domestic electricity meter and contract with an electricity supplier.
You will still get support equivalent to £400 for your energy bills from the EBSS.
You may need to apply for your £400 discount if your home:
- has a communal electricity supply
- has a non-domestic electricity connection
- does not have a contract with an electricity supplier
Apply for energy bill support
If you live in a care home or supported accommodation
You may be eligible for a payment if you both:
- live in a care home or sheltered and supported accommodation
- pay for some or part of your care fees (directly or through loss of pension or other benefits)
If you use alternative fuels for heating
If your household is not connected to the mains gas grid and you use alternative fuels to heat your home, you might be eligible for a £200 Alternative Fuels Payment.
Alternative fuels include:
- tank or bottled gas
- liquid petroleum gas (LPG)
- oil
- wood
- solid fuel
This is on top of the £400 from your electricity supplier and you will get it automatically as a credit on your electricity bills from February 2023.
You may not get the payment automatically if your home is either:
- in an area which is mainly connected to the gas grid
- not connected to either the gas or the electricity grid
If you do not have a contract or account with an electricity supplier, you need to apply for an Alternative Fuels Payment.
Winter fuel payments
Anyone that normally gets the winter fuel payment for pensioners will get an extra one off-payment of between £150 and £300 in winter 2023 and 2024. This will be paid automatically.
Find out more about winter fuel payments
Warm homes scheme
The warm homes scheme can give you up to £150 off your energy bill each year.
Cold weather payments
If you get certain benefits - like pension credit or income support - and the temperature is zero or below for more than seven days you can get £25 extra a week.
Find out more about cold weather payments
Heating grants
If you receive a means tested or disability benefit - like income support or disability living allowance - you might be able to get a grant to help with your heating costs.
GOV.UK also have advice on things you can do that will make your home cheaper to heat.
Water bills
If you need help paying water bills you should speak to your water supplier first. You might be able to get a discounted rate if you live alone or you might be eligible for the WaterSure scheme that caps how much you pay.