Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS)
The Energy Bills Support Scheme provides a £400 non-repayable discount to eligible households to help with their energy bills over winter 2022 to 2023.
The discount will be applied to your monthly household electricity bill for 6 months starting in October 2022. You’ll get:
- £66 in October and November
- £67 in December, January, February and March
Energy Bills Support Scheme - Alternative Funding (EBSS AF)
The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) is providing support of £400 for energy bills for households in England, Scotland, and Wales without a direct relationship to a domestic electricity supplier. This support is provided by His Majesty’s Government and is delivered by local authorities. The scheme is now open to all eligible households across Great Britain until 31 May 2023.
Eligibility
Subject to applications meeting the eligibility criteria, people who will be able to receive support under EBSS AF include:
- care home residents and others in care facilities/sheltered accommodation (wholly or partly self-funded)
- park home residents, houseboats and caravans that can provide proof of address
- social and private tenants who pay for energy through a landlord on a commercial supply
- homes on a heat network/private wire
- off-grid homes
- farmhouses used for wholly domestic purposes
How to apply
If you are eligible for EBSS AF, you will need to fill out a short online form via the GOV.UK website. This form can be found by searching “Apply for energy bill support if you do not get it automatically” into the search bar on GOV.UK or an internet search engine. Applications are made directly to His Majesty’s Government, not to or via Local Authorities. If you do not have online access, you can apply via a contact centre on 0808 1753 287 where a representative will guide you through the application process.
Once you have applied, your application will be processed and verified. If your application is successful, your details will be shared with local authorities, who will deliver the one-off, non-repayable support. The payment will be made directly into your bank account in a single instalment.
Further information can be found on GOV.UK.
Discretionary Energy Bills Rebate
Funding for residents in Council Tax bands E to H is now available to help households who do not qualify under the core Energy Rebate scheme. This is a discretionary fund and will be used to support those suffering financial hardship as a result of the rising cost of living and will include support for those households who have not been eligible for previous rounds of support.
Funds are limited and applications are only open until Friday 18 November.
Read more to find out whether you can apply
Getting help if you can't afford your energy bills
Visit the Ofgem website for advice and support with high energy bills.
Energy grants checker
Check your eligibility for energy company grants.
Energy saving advice
See our quick fixes and longer term ideas to save energy.
Energy advice from Citizens Advice
Call the Citizens Advice Energy Unit on 01929 775500 or email energy@edpcitizensadvice.org.uk for free and impartial advice on energy.
Difficulty paying your water bill
Your water provider can offer support if you are struggling to pay your water bills:
Cheaper broadband and phone packages
Visit the Ofcom website for Information on cheaper tariffs for eligible households.
Healthy Homes Dorset
Healthy Homes Dorset can offer all Dorset residents free, impartial energy advice over the phone, and eligible residents free loft and wall insulation. Free heating improvements may also be available.
Alternative Fuel Payment
The Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) provides a payment of £200 to households that use alternative fuels. These alternative fuels could be heating oil, biomass and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). These would be the main source of heating.
Eligibility
You may be eligible for a £200 AFP if both the following are true:
- your household is not connected to the mains gas grid
- you use alternative fuels as your main form of heating
This is on top of the £400 from your electricity supplier.
You’re eligible for this payment if the main way you heat your home uses:
- tank or bottled gas
- liquid petroleum gas (LPG)
- oil
- wood
- solid fuel
For most households this will be paid automatically via their electricity supplier.
Alternative Fuel Payment – Alternative Fund (AFP AF)
Some households will need to apply for the payment if they do not have a direct relationship with an electricity supplier. This scheme is now open to all eligible households across Great Britain until 31 May 2023.
Eligibility
Eligibility for the AFP AF is the same as the main scheme as detailed above.
How to apply
To apply for a £200 Alternative Fuel Payment you will need to fill out a short online for via the GOV.UK website. This form can be found by searching “Alternative Fuel Payment Alternative Fund”.
Applications are made directly to His Majesty’s Government, not to or via Local Authorities. If you do not have online access, you can apply via a contact centre on 0808 1753 287 where a representative will guide you through the application process.
Once you have applied, your application will be processed and verified. If your application is successful, your details will be shared with local authorities, who will deliver the one-off, non-repayable support. The payment will be made directly into your bank account in a single instalment.
