Energy bills

The winter fuel payment is a one-off payment to help older people 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.

You will get an extra £200 or £300 paid with your normal payment in November or December 2024.

If you've received a winter fuel payment before, you should get your winter fuel payment automatically.

If you're eligible for the winter fuel payment and did not get a payment last winter, you must make a claim. Call the winter fuel payment centre on 0800 731 0160 to claim by phone or read about the winter fuel payment for more details.

If you receive benefits and the temperature in your area drops below zero degrees for seven consecutive days, you will automatically be paid £25 into the same bank account as your benefits payments.

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 is a one-off payment of £150 paid directly to your energy provider.

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 think you’re entitled to the warm home discount, you should call 0800 107 8002. 

If you’re struggling to pay your energy bills, please 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 
• OVO Energy
• Scottish Power
• SSE

Click on your energy provider to see what financial help they are offering. If your energy provider is not listed above, look online for help being offered by your energy provider. 

A phone number should be written on letters sent by your energy provider. 

The charity Charis helps people pay bills. They partner with energy providers to help those struggling the most.

On the Charis website, they have a number of 'open schemes' that show what support is currently available. 

Please go to their website to see what help you could get with paying for your energy bills. Otherwise, call them on 01733 421 021.

If you cannot 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 wesbite to see if you can get fuel vouchers.