Households who missed out on the £400 energy bills winter discount will now be able to apply for the support next year, the Government has confirmed.
Almost a million households across England, Scotland and Wales were initially not covered by the support scheme due to not having a direct relationship to an energy supplier, including care home residents and people living in park homes. But applications will open for these 900,000 households to get their £400 discount in January 2023, through the Government's Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding.
Eligible households will be able to apply online for the £400 support next month by filling out a short online form on the GOV.UK website, and a helpline will also be available for those without access to the internet. Those likely to meet the criteria also include those living in caravans or houseboats, tenants in certain private and social rented homes, farmers living in domestic farmhouses and off-the-grid households.
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The Government is additionally introducing a £200 Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) to help households in the UK who use alternative fuels such as biomass or heating oil. Most households eligible for this payment will receive it directly from their energy supplier in February 2023 with no need to apply, though applications will open in February for any households using alternative fuel who don't have a relationship with an electricity supplier.
Details were also confirmed of the energy support that will be available to those in Northern Ireland, with a one-off £600 payment set to be given to all households. Payments will start in January, and will be made up of £400 of support under the Government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme Northern Ireland (EBSS NI), and £200 of support under the Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) scheme, which will go to all households in Northern Ireland irrespective of how they heat their home.
Minister for Energy and Climate Graham Stuart said: "Getting this support for households’ bills out across the country will save hundreds of pounds for millions of people during the coldest months of the year. This has been a top priority and joint effort, with close work between officials and electricity suppliers in Northern Ireland, as well as with local authorities in Great Britain who will help get support to over 900,000 households who don’t have the direct relationship with energy suppliers that the vast majority of households do."
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