The UK Government recently opened the £200 Alternative Fuel payment (AFP) online application portal allowing off-grid energy users to claim crucial financial support to help with heating payments. The vast majority of eligible households using oil, coal, LPG and biomass did not need to take any action to receive the support automatically, however, a small proportion of people did need to apply for it.
Off-grid users should have seen the £200 credit added to their domestic electricity account by their provider last month, however, those without a direct connection to their supplier must apply on the GOV.UK page. But for those whose applications have been rejected, an appeals process is now in place.
Minister for Energy Consumers and Affordability, Amanda Solloway MP, shared the details in a written response to Lib Dem MP, Wendy Chamberlain who recently asked “whether an appeal process is in place for people whose applications for the Alternative Fuel Payment are refused”.
Ms Solloway said: “Applicants should contact the contact centre helpline on 0808 175 3943 if the appeal relates to their initial application. If the appeal relates to evidence provided as part of the application, applicants should contact their Local Authority.
“Appeals may be escalated to the Department [of Energy Security and Net Zero] in some circumstances where further checks are required.”
Eligibility for £200 payment
If you use alternative fuels for heating you may be eligible for a £200 Alternative Fuels Payment 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
You are 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
Eligible homes
You may be eligible to apply if you use alternative fuels for heating.
Your main home must also be:
- in a residential park home
- on a boat on a permanent residential mooring
- on a permanent Gypsy and Traveller site
- part of a heat network without an electricity meter
- in social or private rented accommodation which has a business energy connection or a communal electricity supply
- off the mains electricity or gas grid
- part of a business property (such as a farm or a flat above a shop)
Who cannot apply
You also cannot apply if you live:
- in purpose-built student accommodation
- in a care home
- on a boat as a continuous cruiser (currently under review)
- on a non-permanent caravan or mobile home site (currently under review)
- in accommodation provided by your employer (such as seasonal workers, ‘service occupiers’, security guards, building caretakers
- in a building where you are acting as a property guardian
- in business premises, such as a pub or hotel, where your address is the same as the business address
Full details about the £200 Alternative Fuel payment can be found on GOV.UK here.
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