The government has announced an enhanced support package to help households deal with rising energy bills worth £37 billion, with around three quarters of this going to households most in need. This will come in the form of various grants, discounts and rebates. During these difficult times of increased energy prices, you should be even more aware of the dangers of messing with your meter. It’s easy to think that it could be a way of getting cheap energy, but it isn’t worth the risks.
Click here to find out more about the dangers of energy theft.
To find out what happens when energy theft goes unreported, click here.
Report Energy Theft
Energy theft is dangerous. It puts you and your loved ones in danger. If someone you know is tampering with their gas or electricity meter, make sure you report it 100% anonymously here.
The Stay Energy Safe Service can only take information on energy theft and meter tampering. We are not able to assist with calls regarding changing supplier, bills, cheaper electricity or gas quotes, meter faults, meter readings, topping up pay as you go, new meters, requesting a smart meter, boilers, power cuts, or car charging. If you need help with any of these, please contact your energy supplier.
What Help Is Available?
There are a number of grants available that can help with energy bills or energy debt, and can be a helping hand for individuals and families that need assistance. They can come from organisations such as your energy provider, the government, or other non-profit organisations.
Non-Repayable £400 Energy Discount
A non-repayable £400 energy discount is available to all households which have a domestic electricity connection in Great Britain. Any household with domestic electricity connection will be immediately qualified, no application is necessary. This will begin in October 2022 and will run over a six-month period. Energy bills will be discounted by £66 in October and November, which will Rise to £67 from December to March.
How will you receive this assistance?
Direct Debit Customers
If you pay for your energy via direct debit you will receive your grant automatically. This will either appear as a reduction on your monthly direct debit, or as a refund to your bank account following each month’s direct debit collection.
Standard Credit Customers and Payment Card Customers
If you are a standard credit customer or a payment card customer you will also receive this grant automatically. The grant will be applied as a credit in on your account in the first week of each month of delivery.
Smart Prepayment Meter Customers
If you have a smart prepayment meter you will get your grant automatically applied to your meter in the first week of each month of delivery.
Traditional Prepayment Meter Customers
Any customer who uses traditional meters will be provided with a special action message (SAMs), or a redeemable voucher in the first week of each month of delivery. This will be issued via email, post or an SMS text. You must take action to redeem these at your top-up point. To ensure you receive your voucher it’s important to check your supplier has your up-to-date contact details.
Customer Who Pays for Energy Included in Their Rent
Landlords who charge their tenants an ‘all inclusive’ rent, which is the case for many students, should be passing on the discounted payment to tenants, if they have passed on the cost increases in the first instance.
Click here to read more about the risk of electricity fraud at student households.
Click here to learn more about how to make sure your landlord passes on the reduction.
Click here to read more about the energy bills support scheme.
Cost of Living Payment for Individuals on Benefits
A £650 payment is available to anyone who receives any of the following benefits:
- Universal credit
- Income-based jobseeker's allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Income support
- Working tax credit
- Child tax credit
- Pension credit
This payment will come in two separate instalments. For most people, the first £326 should have been paid between 14 and 31 July, the second payment of £324 will be paid in the autumn. Those on tax credits will have to wait longer, with the first payment being in the autumn and the second in the winter. These payments do not need to be applied for and will be paid automatically into your bank account. They will be marked as ‘DWP Cost of Living’.
Click here to learn more about cost of living payments for individuals on benefits.
Cost of Living Payment for Individuals on Disability Benefits
A £150 cost of living payment is available to anyone who receives any of the following benefits:
- Attendance allowance
- Constant attendance allowance
- Disability living allowance for adults
- Disability living allowance for children
- Personal independence payment(PIP)
- Adult disability payment (in Scotland)
- Child disability payment (in Scotland)
- Armed forces independence payment
- War pension mobility supplement
You must have received a payment of one of these qualifying benefits before 25 May 2022. This grant does not need to be applied for and will be automatically paid. It is tax-free, exempt from the benefits cap, and will not have an impact on any other benefits you receive.
Click here to learn more about energy grants for individuals on disability benefits.
Winter Fuel Payment
The Winter Fuel Payment is a payment available to those born on or before 26 September 1956. This payment is for between £100 and £300 that you will automatically receive (you do not need to claim) if you either:
- Receive a state pension
- Get some form of social security
Alongside the Winter Fuel Payment, there will be a one-off Pensioner Cost of Living Payment for between £150 and £300 for over 8 million pensioner households.
Click here to find out more about the Winter Fuel payment.
Cold Weather Payments
The Cold Weather Payment pays you if the average temperature is recorded to be, or forecasted to be, 0 degrees Celsius or below for 7 consecutive days.
This system will pay you £25 for each 7-day period that the temperature falls below that level.
To be eligible for this scheme, you need to be receiving one of the following:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
The 2022 to 2023 Cold Weather Payment scheme is due to start on 1 November 2022.
Click here to learn more about Cold Weather Payment.
Further Help With Your Energy Bills
If you still need help with your energy bills, there may be additional options available to you.
The Discretionary Fund is designed to give local councils the chance to provide support to energy bill payers who are not eligible for the main features of the government’s plan but still need support. The fund is worth £144m and is distributed to each council based on their level of need. This will be available until the end of November 2022.
It’s important to note: the guidance outlined above only applies to households in England. However, governments in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales will receive around £565 million so they can provide similar support.
For more information about help in your specific area, and when you can expect it, make sure you contact your local council.
You can also speak to your energy company – they may be able to offer a different type of meter or agree a payment scheme to support you. Some energy companies offer grants to help with energy debt that you may be eligible for.
There is also a £500 million increase and extension of the Household Support Fund available to councils in England to support vulnerable households with the cost of essentials such as food, utilities and clothing. There are similar funds for Wales and Scotland.
If you live in England, you can contact your local council to see if there are any local grants or schemes available to you. Find your local council here.
To find out more about the Discretionary Assistance Fund in Wales click here.
To find out more on Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants click here.
Read about how to pay off your energy debt here.
Get tips on how to save money on your energy bills.