Fewer than 5% of households in Great Britain and Northern Ireland do not have a direct contract with an electricity supplier or an electricity meter of their own. This includes residents of park homes, care homes, mobile homes, houseboat residents, or those using off-the-grid electricity. Rebecca has been in constant contact with the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy to make sure Castle Point residents get the £400 for their energy bills from Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Fund.
Applications are now open online: https://www.gov.uk/apply-energy-bill-support-if-not-automatic
If you cannot apply online or need help with your application, contact the helpline team.
Email: alternativefunding@ebss.beis.gov.uk
Telephone: 0808 175 3287 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm)
Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Fund: February 2023 UPDATE
I'm pleased to see that the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Fund has finally opened for applications. I have been speaking to the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy since June 2022 to make sure my residents receive the help they deserve. I was disappointed to learn there were delays due to the significant complexities in delivering a scheme with a wide variety of eligible groups with different energy arrangements- but I'm glad it has now opened.
I know many of my constituents have been anxiously awaiting this news and I would encourage you to apply as soon as possible. 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. Rebecca Harris (23rd February 2023)
FAQ's
Eligible homes
You may be eligible to apply if your main home is:
- 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
- in a care home or assisted living facility and you pay for some or all of your care
- in a separate domestic home within a non-domestic property (such as a farmhouse or a flat above a shop)
Who should apply?
You can apply if:
- you pay for the energy your household uses
- you’re applying for your main, permanent home
- you have a fixed address in England, Scotland or Wales
Who cannot apply?
Most households get the £400 support automatically. You do not need to apply if you or your landlord:
- has a domestic energy meter
- pay your bills directly to an energy supplier (such as British Gas or EDF)
You cannot apply if you’ve already had Energy Bills Support Scheme payments. This is 6 automatic monthly payments or prepayment meter vouchers of £66 or £67 from your energy supplier, from October 2022.
If you think you should have got a payment but have not, contact your energy supplier.
You also cannot apply for a discount if you live:
- in purpose-built student accommodation
- in a care home and do not pay any of your fees
- on a boat with a continuous cruising licence (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
Before you start
You will need:
- an email address and phone number (if you have one)
- your bank account details (a UK current account in your name)
If you’re not registered for Council Tax, you’ll need to upload proof of address (such as a bank statement or tenancy agreement) as part of your application.
Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) scheme
Nearly 2 million households who use alternative energy sources to warm their homes will receive the support which was doubled to £200 last year. The Alternative Fuel Payment scheme will provide a £200 payment to UK (Great Britain and NI) households that use alternative fuels for heating, such as heating oil or LPG, instead of mains gas.
This will ensure that households who do not benefit through the Energy Price Guarantee to heat their homes, receive support for the cost of the fuel they do use. The majority of households eligible for these payments will receive £200 automatically as a credit on their electricity bill.
From Wednesday (22/02/23) energy suppliers will also be able to start making payments to businesses and both public and voluntary sector organisations that use alternative fuels to heat their buildings. A credit of £150 will be provided to eligible customers across the UK through the Non-Domestic Alternative Fuel Payment scheme (ND-AFP). Suppliers will deliver this support up to 10 March, with most customers expected to receive it later this month. There is no need to contact your supplier.
A small minority of customers, such as those living in park homes or on static houseboats with no direct energy supplier, will need to apply to receive the payment through an online portal. Applications opened in March.
You can apply online: https://www.gov.uk/apply-alternative-fuel-bill-support-if-not-automatic
If you cannot apply online, call the helpline: 0808 175 3943 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm)
You can apply if:
- you pay for the energy your household uses
- you’re applying for your main, permanent home
You will need:
- an email address or phone number (if you have one)
- your bank account details
- proof that you’ve spent £200 on alternative fuels to heat your home since June 2022 (for example, a delivery note or receipt)
NON-ENERGY SCHEMES
£650 Cost of Living payment for those on benefits
More than 8 million households on means tested benefits will receive a payment of £650. This includes all households who receive Universal Credit, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Pension Credit. Department of Work and Pensions will make the payment in two lump sums – the first from July, the second in the autumn. Payments from HMRC for those on Tax Credits only will follow shortly after each to ensure there are no duplicate payments. The government will make these payments directly to households across the UK.
£300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment
All pensioner households will receive an extra £300 to help them cover the rising cost of energy this winter. Pensioners are disproportionately impacted by higher energy costs, and many low-income pensioner households do not claim the means tested benefits they are entitled to. This payment will go to the over 8 million pensioner households who receive the Winter Fuel Payment. The Pensioner Cost of Living Payment will come as a top-up to annual Winter Fuel Payments in November/December. For most pensioner households, this will be paid by direct debit, is not taxable and does not affect eligibility for other benefits. The government will make these payments directly to households across the UK.
£150 Disability Cost of Living Payment
People with disabilities will receive an extra £150 to help with the particular extra costs they face. Six million people who receive Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Scottish Disability Benefits, Armed Forces Independence Payment, Constant Attendance Allowance and War Pension Mobility Supplement will receive the support as a one off payment in September. These payments will be exempt from tax, will not count towards the benefit cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards. The government will make these payments directly to households across the UK.
Household Support Fund
The Household Support Fund will provide £1 billion this financial year to help households who are not eligible for other kinds of help or need further support. The Household Support Fund helps those in most need with the cost of essentials such as food, clothing and utilities and, in England, will continue to be distributed to Local Authorities, who are best placed to direct help to those who need it most. In May 2022, the Government announced a further £500 million of support via the scheme, which will now run until March 2023. This is on top of £1 billion of support made available since October 2021.
Castle Point Council: https://www.castlepoint.gov.uk/alternative-support-for-household-energy…
In the meantime, if you are looking for extra help with the rising Cost of Living please visit: https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk