UK Government £400 Energy Bills Discount/ Energy Bills Support Scheme
Starting October 2022, a £400 non-repayable discount will be paid out over 6 months to help households with the cost of energy.
- £66 in October and November
- £67 in December, January, February and March
Who's eligible
- Everyone with a domestic electricity connection.
How to access
There is no need to apply. Energy suppliers will apply the discount directly. However, customers on prepayment meters need to look out for a voucher to get this discount.
How will the discount be received?
Traditional prepayment meter customers
Energy bill discount vouchers will be automatically issued from the beginning of each month. You will receive the discount automatically in one of the following ways:
- a voucher received by SMS text message, email, or by post, using your contact details registered with your energy supplier. It is important to ensure these are up to date.
- an automatic credit when you top up at your usual top up point.
Your energy supplier will let you know how you will receive your discount.
To make sure you do not miss out you should make sure:
- Your contact details with your energy supplier are correct.
- You use your voucher at your usual top-up point eg local PayPoint or Post Office branch.
Guide to redeeming your voucher: You should receive your voucher near the beginning of each month, either by SMS text message, email, or by post. Each voucher is valid for 3 months.
What if I haven't received my discount?
If you have not received your voucher, please check that your electricity supplier has your correct contact details. If you haven't heard anything, call your supplier and let them know as you are entitled to the discount. You may not have heard anything if your discount has been added as an automatic credit when you top up at your usual top up point – but your energy supplier should let you know this.
- When you have received your voucher, you can redeem it at your usual top up point when you top up as usual. For example, at the Post Office or a Paypoint shop.
- Look out for your new voucher – received at the beginning of each month until March 2023.
- Redeem each voucher as soon as you can – they are only valid for 3 months.
What do I do if I've missed my voucher?
If you think you have missed your voucher, get in touch with your energy supplier as they can re-issue it.
Direct debit customers
You'll receive the discount automatically in one of the follow ways:
- Reduction on monthly direct debit
- A refund to your bank account
- Standard credit or payment card customers
Your discount will be automatically applied as a credit to your account in the first week of each month. The credit will appear as it would if you had made a payment.
Standard credit or payment card customers
Your discount will be credited directly to your smart prepayment meter in the first week of each month.
Beware of scams
There have been several scams surrounding the UK Government's £400 energy bill discount. Customers have been reporting receiving text messages inviting them to apply for the discount. This is a SCAM. The £400 is paid automatically and you don’t need to apply. For more information on the scheme, visit the UK government website.
Fuel Bank Foundation
A Fuel Bank voucher - £49 voucher available from 01 November 2022 to 31 March 2023.
- vouchers are usually issued within 24 hours and are valid for 30 days.
- vouchers are redeemed at PayPoint outlets, with the exception of British/Scottish Gas where the vouchers are Post Office and must be redeemed at a Post Office.
Who's eligible
- Prepayment meter customers for gas/electricity
- If you are in fuel crisis
How to access
You can be referred through the Community Advice Services team and Advice and Support Hub staff.
Fuel Bank Heat Fund
This fund is available for financially vulnerable households who live off the gas grid and rely on bulk fuel deliveries. The Heat Fund ensures people are not left without energy for basics like heating or hot water.
Who's eligible
- Your household must rely on coal, wood, heating oil, or LPG as primary source of heat.
- Your household must be off the gas grid and not use electricity as the primary source of heating.
- You must be located in Scotland.
- You are EITHER living without heat because you are unable to afford to purchase fuel, OR are imminently at risk of living without heat because you are unable to afford to purchase bulk fuel (imminently means within 7 days).
You can be referred through the Community Advice Services team and Advice and Support Hub staff.
Home Energy Scotland
Home Energy Scotland offer free and impartial energy advice, information on grants and loans, tariff advice and income maximisation.
For more information, visit Home Energy Scotland.
Home Heating Support Fund
Payments made directly to energy supplier or energy vouchers sent directly to individual customers.
- For those facing significant financial hardship regardless of the fuel or payment method used.
Who's eligible
- You must have received energy and/or debt advice to be eligible.
Those already disconnected from an energy source are not eligible for this fund.
How to access
Our Community Advice Services team can apply on your behalf or you can apply yourself at homeheatingadvice.scot.
Warm Home Discount Scheme
£150 off your energy bill (or added to your meter).
The money is not paid to you - it's a one-off discount on your electricity bill, between October 2022 and March 2023.
Who's eligible
Core group
- Those who receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit.
Broader group (Low income households)
- child tax and working tax credits
- income-related employment and support allowance
- income-based jobseeker's allowance
- income support and universal credit
- receiving housing benefit with a child under 5 or a disabled child
How to access
Apply directly to your energy provider.
The Warm Home Discount comes directly from energy providers so you must check with your energy provider if they offer the discount.
Those in the core group receive it automatically, those in the broader group must apply.
Winter Fuel Payment
This year will be combined with Pensioner Cost of Living Payment - £250 to £600 available.
Payments will be made in November or December 2023.
Ensure your address is correct with HMRC. You should get a letter in October or November telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment you'll get, if you're eligible.
Who's eligible
- If you were born on or before 26 September 1956.
- You lived in the UK for at least one day during the week 19 - 25 September 2022 (this is called the 'qualifying week').
How to access
Most get it automatically.
But you must apply if:
- you've not had it before
- you do not get benefits or a State Pension or if you've deferred your State Pension
- you get Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit, Universal Credit or an Adult Disability Payment from the Scottish Government
Complete the Winter Fuel Payment claim form to apply.
Scottish Welfare Fund - Crisis Grant
To meet an urgent need that poses an immediate and substantial risk to health and safety eg food and energy supply (electricity or gas).
Who's eligible
You can apply if you:
- live in the Falkirk Council area
- are legally resident in the UK
- aged 16 and over
- are on a qualifying benefit eg Income Support or low income
- do not have any access to other appropriate sources of financial support
- are subject to a sanction or disallowance by the DWP and have had your benefit reduced as a result (you may be considered for a Crisis Grant until you can arrange a hardship payment).
How to access
Apply using the Scottish Welfare fund online form.
Or visit one of our Advice and Support Hubs.
The Scottish Welfare Fund Helpline is open 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday (except bank holidays):
Child Winter Heating Assistance
A benefit from the Scottish Government to help disabled children and young people and their families with increased heating costs over winter.
This benefit is paid once a year. The payment for winter 2022-2023 is £214.10.
Who's eligible
- Young people aged 19 or younger and get one of the following:
- the highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment
- the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance for children
- the enhanced daily living rate of Personal Independence Payment
How to access
Those eligible are automatically paid.
Usually paid from end of November onwards.
Cost of Living Payment
- £301 – Spring 2023
- £300 – Autumn 2023
- £299 – Spring 2024
The UK Government has not yet announced when the payments will be made.
Who's eligible
You must be in receipt of any of the following:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
How to access
You will be paid this automatically.
Payment will be made in the same way as other benefits.
Disability Cost of Living Payment
Payment of £150 in summer 2023.
Who's eligible
You must be in receipt of the following:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance for adults
- Disability Living Allowance for children
- Personal Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
How to access
You will be paid this automatically.
Winter Heating Payment is replacing the Cold Weather Payment
An annual £50 payment, paid automatically through Social Security Scotland. Payments for winter 2022 will start from February 2023.
Who's eligible
You must be in receipt of one of the following:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
How to access
You will be paid this automatically.
Warmer Homes Scotland
To help people make their homes warmer by installing a range of energy saving improvements.
Assessors come to your home to survey it and will recommend improvements suitable for the home, which could include a range of insulation and heating.
In some cases, a customer contribution will be required for more expensive improvements, such as solid wall insulation. An interest free loan is available to help meet the costs of the customer contribution. The loan is subject to a credit check and includes an administration fee.
Who's eligible
You must meet ALL of the following:
- Be a homeowner or the tenant of a private-sector landlord
- Live in the home as your main residence
- Have lived there for at least 12 months (unless in receipt of a DS1500 or BASRiS form)
- Live in a home with a poor energy rating - this will be assessed by a surveyor
- Live in a home that meets the tolerable living standard set out in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 or, where the home does not meet the tolerable living standard, this will not impact on the effectiveness of the measures recommended for installation under the scheme
- Householders must not have received support for energy efficiency improvements through Warmer Homes Scotland in the last 5 years.
AND one of the following:
- Be 75 or over and have no working heating system
- Be 16 or over (working age) and be in receipt of a passport benefit or income-related benefit
How to access
Call Home Energy Scotland or complete their contact form.
E.ON Energy Fund/ E.ON Next Energy Fund
Grants towards bills and replacement appliances.
Who's eligible
How to access
You can contact E.ON Next Energy Fund or you can be referred through our Debt Advice Team.
OVO Energy Fund
Who's eligible
- OVO customers only.
- You have debt to either electricity or gas account of more than £150. The debt has been accumulated over 90 days.
- You have a gross annual household income of £16,190 or less.
- You can't re-apply if you've previously applied to the fund in the last 2 calendar years.
How to access
Contact OVO direct:
Scottish Power Hardship Fund
Customers can receive a full or partial award to their arrears and then their Scottish Power account will be credited. Awards will only be paid once the customer commits to a payment arrangement towards their on-going usage.
Who's eligible
- Scottish Power customers only.
How to access
You can apply for the Scottish Power Hardship Fund or you can be referred through our Debt Advice Team.
To qualify customers must be receiving the following:
- Income Support
- Job Seekers Allowance
- Employment or Support Allowance
- Pension Credit
Customers can also qualify if they have a low household income or special circumstances for example, income reduction or illness.
British Gas Individuals & Families Fund
A grant to clear an outstanding debt on a current or open gas, electricity or dual fuel energy account in your name or a member of your household. You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply for this fund - you can be a British Gas customer, or a customer from another supplier with arrears of up to £1,500. Many energy companies have their own funds for their customers so make sure to check.
Who's eligible
- You must live in Scotland
- You must not have received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust within the last 2 years
- You have electric and/or gas debt
- You must be in or facing fuel poverty
- You have received help from a money advice agency
How to access
Information needed to apply:
- Proof of money advice received in the last 3 months
- Proof of all household income
- British gas customers - meter readings
- Other energy suppliers - bill from last 4 weeks
Apply at British Gas Energy Trust.
Please note this fund is now closed to credit customers. The fund is still open to pre-payment meter customers until end of March 2023.
British Gas Energy Support Fund
You need to be a British Gas customer to apply for this fund. This fund credits your energy account directly if you are between £250 and £1,500 in energy debt and you meet the following criteria:
- You live in Scotland.
- You must be seeking a grant to clear an outstanding debt on a current or open gas, electricity or dual fuel energy account in your name or be a member of that household, the energy account must relate to your main residence.
- You have electric and/or gas debt between £250 - £1,500; and
- You must be in or facing fuel poverty.
How to access
Information needed to apply:
- Proof of all household income.
- A meter read for your gas and/or electricity account (unless you have a smart meter).
All applicants need to have sought money advice before applying and be able to provide evidence of this – please contact our debt advice team or your local Citizens Advice Bureau.
Apply at British Gas Energy Trust.
Priority Services Register
You can apply to the Priority Services Register.
The register is a free support service from those in vulnerable situations. You can apply through your energy provider or network operator.
Ofgem rules mean energy suppliers must offer a payment plan people can afford.
Advice and Support
If you need help to claim benefits, unsure what benefits you may be entitled to or have recently been refused benefits the Welfare Benefits Team can help.
If you're worried about debt or are struggling to manage your money, we can help. The Debt Advice Team can give you help and advice on all types of debt including rent and mortgage arrears, council tax, personal loans, hire purchase agreements, credit cards, store cards, payday loans, catalogues, and fuel bills.
For more information on cost of living support: Benefits & support – Cost of living support.
For guidance on how to save energy at home: Wellbeing – Guidance on domestic energy saving.
Beware of scams
Scammers are targeting people struggling with their energy bills. Energy Advice offer free and practical advice on how to stay safe.