Nearly one million households without a direct link to an electricity supply are now able to apply for a £400 one-off energy support payment from the government. The £400 energy bills support scheme alternative funding (EBSS AF) is aimed at helping people such as those living in park homes, care homes as well as off-grid, with the rising cost of energy prices.
The non-repayable lump sum will be delivered by local authorities in Scotland, England and Wales to provide financial support to around 900,000 households. The fund is on top of the £200 alternative fuel payment (AFP) being given this month to around two million off-grid customers. You can find out more about that here.
The scheme, which opened on February 27, was due to open last month but was delayed due to “significant complexities". It had been piloted in four council areas in the UK - Glasgow City Council, Chichester District Council, West Suffolk Council and Wrexham County Borough Council - but is now open nationwide.
Read more: People will get £900 cost of living support in three instalments this year
Millions of households have already received £400 support towards paying their energy bills including those on direct debit, pre-payment and traditional meters who are automatically receiving their discounts spread over six months. You can read more about that here.
People eligible for the EBSS funding are able to apply through an online portal and the payment will be provided directly into people’s bank accounts. Once customers have applied to receive energy support and their applications have been processed and verified, eligible customers’ details will be shared with local authorities, which will deliver the support in one lump sum. You can get more consumer news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
Local authorities may request additional information to assist their verification process – but only once an application has been made via the secure portal or helpline. Applicants will only be able to submit information through these channels and should not contact their local authority. The exact date that an eligible household will receive support will depend on when the application is made and when the payment can be processed by the relevant local authority.
Minister at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Amanda Solloway, said: “We understand the pressure households are under which is why we’ve already stepped in to pay around half of people’s energy bills this winter, and from today, thousands more will be able to apply securely for their £400.
“Today I’m urging everyone who couldn’t get their EBSS discounts in the regular way to apply via our secure channels. If you don’t have a direct contract with an electricity supplier, it’s essential you submit your application as soon as possible. The sooner you do, the sooner help can get to you.”
Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps is expected to contact local authorities thanking them for getting the scheme over the line and urge them to process applications as quickly as possible so households aren’t left waiting weeks after applying.
He’ll also say there must be no further delays to rolling out the Alternative Fuel Payment Alternative Fund – a similar scheme for households which use alternative fuels as their main source of heating, providing £200 towards energy costs, adding it will be live by March 6.
This will help people who use alternative energy sources such as heating oil, biomass and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to heat their homes, but who were unable to receive the government’s £200 Alternative Fuel Payment automatically via their electricity supplier. Of nearly 2 million people who use these sources as the main means to heat their homes, around 15% will need to apply through a similar GOV.UK portal which will shortly open to applications.
Read next:
- People will get £900 cost of living support in three instalments this year
- DWP benefits, minimum wage and energy prices: All the big money changes to look out for in 2023
- Martin Lewis issues advice on how to avoid huge 14% mobile phone bills rise in April
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