An online portal for a one-off £400 payment to help people with winter energy bills is now open and accepting applications from households across Scotland, England and Wales. A telephone helpline is also available for those without access to the internet to apply for the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF).
The UK Government is urging all eligible households to apply as soon as possible for their support, but also warning people to “stay alert to potential scams” and report them to relevant authorities where they are suspected. It said: “The government will never provide any links to the application portal, or directly ask individuals to apply for the £400 support.”
It added that anyone who might need additional support applying for the one-off payment should ask a family member or trusted friend for help. The non-repayable lump sum will be delivered by local authorities and aims to provide financial support to around 900,000 households without a direct relationship with a domestic electricity supplier.
This includes people who live in park homes, houseboats, off-grid and care homes, or those paying their energy bills as part of an all-inclusive rental agreement with their landlord.
The portal offers clear guidance on eligibility, who should apply, who cannot claim and details you need before filling in the short online form. We won’t add a direct link to the portal, but instead to the main page on GOV.UK here which provides information and links to the relevant pages on the website, including the portal.
The UK Government said that the launch of applications follows months of close work with stakeholders across the country to deliver help for households with the cost of living. The alternative funding route is the latest in a range of targeted measures which are covering around half of a typical household’s energy bills this winter.
To ensure people feel the benefit of this support as quickly as possible, the payment will be provided directly into people’s bank accounts.
Over £7.2 billion has been provided so far to 97 per cent of households across Scotland, England and Wales through monthly instalments, which most households receive automatically in the same way they pay these bills - the final credit or discount of £67 will be applied in March.
The alternative funding route is designed to make sure the same level of support reaches those without a direct relationship to an electricity supplier. It’s also available for households who get their energy through a commercial contract or who are off-grid.
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 thousands more will be able to apply securely for their £400.
“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.”
Eligibility for £400 payment
The safest way to check your eligibility and apply for the £400 support, is to type in “Apply for energy bill support if you do not get it automatically” in the search bar on GOV.UK here.
Households eligible to apply for support under EBSS Alternative Funding 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
To keep up to date with the cost of living crisis, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out daily, Monday to Friday - sign up here.
READ NEXT
- People urged to redeem £67 energy voucher before March 8
Seven ways to save money on energy bills before new price cap change in April
New fixed-term energy deals cheaper than April price guarantee could be offered by summer
Full list of money changes and one-off payments due before end of this year
People on low incomes or certain benefits could be due cash help from local council this month
