The UK Government has announced that it is “working closely” with stakeholder groups and representative bodies, including park home associations, to update them on progress of the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF). This will ensure those eligible are made fully aware of the financial help and encouraged to apply when the online portal opens at the end of this month.
The application portal had been expected to open by the end of January, but last week, Climate Minister Graham Stuart MP confirmed that it is now anticipated to open “on or before 27th February”. He explained: “Based on feedback from the pilot scheme, the Government has taken the decision to extend the pilot phase to ensure that it makes the scheme as robust and effective as possible, and that this is reflected in our guidance to local authorities.”
The one-off, non-repayable lump sum will be delivered by local authorities in Scotland, England and Wales 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.
There is no confirmation yet on how long payments will take to be made after an application has been submitted. As the one-off payment will be delivered by local authorities across Great Britain, this may vary regionally.
People without internet access will be able to apply for the £400 payment over the phone once the portal opens along with a dedicated helpline.
We will update this article and the Daily Record Money Saving Scotland Facebook group as soon as more details about the £400 application portal are made available.
Around 29 million households across Great Britain are already receiving monthly discounts through the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme. Discounts of £67 will be applied to energy accounts until the end of March.
Who can claim the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding?
Online applications are scheduled to open on February 27 for households in Scotland, England and Wales who are eligible for the £400 one-off payment to submit their details.
Payments to households that meet the eligibility criteria - including people who get their energy through a commercial contract or who are off-grid - will be made by local authorities in Great Britain.
The UK Government said this is likely to include:
- care home residents
- park home residents
- tenants in certain private and social rented homes
- homes supplied via private wires
- residents of caravans and houseboats on registered sites
- farmers living in domestic farmhouses
- off-grid households
Once households have applied to receive support and their applications have been processed and verified, eligible applicants' details will be shared with local authorities who will deliver the one-off, non-repayable support "this winter".
Applicants will only be able to submit information through the GOV.UK portal when it opens this month and should not contact their local authority directly as they will not be able to offer any more information.
The UK Government also said that 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.
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