Energy bill support is available from major UK suppliers

The UK's major energy providers still have money remaining to support struggling households amid the cost of living crisis. Millions of pounds are available in the form of grants to help vulnerable families. Support will be needed more than ever this year with already heavily increased energy costs set to rise further from April.

Prices for the average UK household are scheduled to increase from GBP2,500 to GBP3,000 a year. But assistance is available from the UK's major energy suppliers. While many grants have already been paid out, companies still have funds - sometimes up to thousands of pounds - to help vulnerable households, ChronicleLive reports.

For instance, by the middle of December British Gas still had GBP7.5 million to give out and Octopus had GBP15 million to be claimed. And while they wouldn't provide specific figures, EDF, E.on Next, Ovo, and Shell Energy all told Money Saving Expert they all still had funds available. Scottish Power and Utility Warehouse's grant schemes are also still open for applicants.

Bulb, which was sold to Octopus Energy just before Christmas, is no longer taking new applications. Whether your supplier offers support, who qualifies, and how much you'll get varies. Scottish Power, for example, requires people to be on certain benefits, while Utility Warehouse requires people to be in fuel poverty, or about to go into energy debt.

Most suppliers require applicants to have spoken to a debt adviser such as StepChange before applying, complete an income and expenditure budgeting form, provide proof of income, give details of how arrears have built up, and detail how the grant will help them. Those deemed to have the greatest need are likely to be prioritised. One supplier, British Gas, has a scheme open to all customers, regardless of whether they buy their energy from British Gas or not.

The grant, from the British Gas Energy Trust, will pay up to GBP1,500 to households in In fuel debt of GBP250 or more and with no savings over GBP1,000. You can't apply if you have had a British Gas grant in the past two years. British Gas also has a scheme specifically for its customers.

British Gas Name of fund: Energy Support Fund Maximum payment: GBP1,500

Criteria to apply:

  • Can't have had British Gas grant in past 12 months
  • In fuel debt of GBP250 or more (no requirement regarding maximum savings, though income and outgoings will be assessed)

EDF Name of fund: Customer Support Fund Maximum payment: No set limit - depends on your circumstances

Criteria to apply:

  • Experiencing hardship, or struggling to manage energy debt

Eon Next Name of fund: Energy Fund Maximum payment: No set limit - depends on your circumstances

Criteria to apply:

  • No set criteria, but based on needs and ability to pay energy bills

Octopus Name of fund: Octo Assist Fund Maximum payment: No set limit - depends on your circumstances

Criteria to apply:

  • No specific eligibility criteria

Ovo Energy Name of fund: Hardship Scheme Maximum payment: Supplier wouldn't confirm

Criteria to apply:

  • Full criteria not yet published but likely to include those in energy debt with little/no disposable income, those using medical equipment and those eligible for the Warm Home Discount

Scottish Power Name of fund: Hardship Fund Maximum payment: Varies depending on need and funds available

Criteria to apply:

  • In receipt of: income support, jobseeker's allowance, pension credit, or employment and support allowance

Shell Energy Name of fund: Support Fund Maximum payment: No set limit - depends on your circumstances

Criteria to apply:

  • No specific eligibility criteria

Utility Warehouse Name of fund: Customer Support Scheme (run in conjunction with Citizens Advice) Maximum payment: Supplier wouldn't confirm

Criteria to apply:

  • In fuel poverty, or about to go into energy debt or run out of prepay credit

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