Energy bills

The Winter Fuel Payment is a one-off payment to help older people in receipt of Pension Credit (or other means-tested benefits) with the cost of heating their home. If you're born on or before 23 September 1958, you may be entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment.

Depending on your income, you’ll get an extra £200 or £300 paid with your normal payment in November or December each year.

You won’t need to apply for the Winter Fuel Payment if you’re already receiving one of the qualifying benefits. If you’re eligible, you should’ve received a letter in October or November 2024 saying how much you’ll get.

If you didn’t get a letter or the money hasn’t been paid to you by 29 January 2025, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160.

If you think you may be eligible but you’re not yet claiming Pension Credit, find out if you qualify online using the Pension Credit Checker. If you’re not sure if you’re eligible, you can call the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160.

Read the Government website pages about the  Winter Fuel Payment for more details.

If you receive benefits, such as Universal Credit or Job Seeker’s Allowance, and the temperature in your area drops below zero degrees for 7 consecutive days, you’ll automatically be paid £25 into the same bank account as your benefits payments.

You’ll get £25 for each period of very cold weather between 1 November 2024 and 31 March 2025.

For more information, read about the Cold Weather Payment.

If you or your partner get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you should get the Warm Home Discount.

The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a one-off discount of £150 on your electricity bill. Your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill before 31 March 2025.

You might also be able to get the Warm Home Discount if you receive benefits and the Government decides you have high energy costs.

If you’re eligible for the discount, you should’ve received a letter between October 2024 and early January 2025. If you think you’re entitled to the Warm Home Discount and you haven’t received a letter, you should call 0800 030 9322 before 28 February 2025. 

Read more about the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

If you’re struggling to pay your energy bills, speak to your energy supplier as soon as possible about what help is available.

Some energy providers are offering grants to customers who are finding themselves in serious hardship and unable to pay their energy bills. Most of the grants encourage you to seek free financial advice before applying for assistance.

Energy providers who are offering grants and support include: 

• British Gas
• EDF
• EON
• Octopus Energy
• OVO Energy
• Scottish Power
• SSE

Click on your energy provider to see what financial help they're offering. If your energy provider isn't listed above, look online for help being offered by your energy provider. 

You should be able to find a phone number on letters or emails sent by your energy provider. 

The charity Charis helps people pay bills. They partner with energy providers to help those struggling the most. The Charis website has a number of 'open schemes' that show what support is currently available. 

Visit their website to see what help you could get with paying for your energy bills or call them on 01733 421 021.

If you can't afford to top up your prepayment meter, your local council may be able to supply you fuel vouchers which you can use as credit.

Visit your local council's website to see if you can get fuel vouchers.