More north-east households to benefit from £400 of government energy bill support
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The Government has launched a new portal for 900,000 additional GB households to apply for £400 payments towards energy bills.
Households without a direct relationship to an electricity supplier, such as those living in park homes and care homes, can now apply via a secure online portal to receive the support as a one-off, non-repayable lump sum under the ‘alternative funding’ route of the government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS AF).
For those without online access, a dedicated customer helpline is available to assist eligible customers.
To ensure people feel the benefit of this support as quickly as possible, the payment will be provided directly into people’s bank accounts.
Over £7.2 billion has been provided so far to 97 per cent of households across England, Scotland and Wales through monthly instalments, which most households receive automatically in the same way they pay these bills.
The alternative funding route is designed to make sure the same level of support reaches those without a direct relationship to an electricity supplier.
It’s also available for households who get their energy through a commercial contract or who are off-grid.
Ministers are today urging all eligible households to apply as soon as possible for their support, whilst also warning households to stay alert to potential scams and report them to relevant authorities where they are suspected.
Minister at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Amanda Solloway, said:"We understand the pressure households are under which is why we’ve already stepped in to pay around half of people’s energy bills this winter, and from today, thousands more will be able to apply securely for their £400.
"Today I’m urging everyone who couldn’t get their EBSS discounts in the regular way to apply via our secure channels.
"If you don’t have a direct contract with an electricity supplier, it’s essential you submit your application as soon as possible.
"The sooner you do, the sooner help can get to you.
Once customers have applied to receive energy support and their applications have been processed and verified, eligible customers’ details will be shared with Local Authorities across England, Scotland and Wales, who will deliver the support in one lump sum.
Local authorities may request additional information to assist their verification process – but only once an application has been made via the secure portal or helpline.
Applicants will only be able to submit information through these channels and should not contact their local authority.
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.
Households eligible to apply for support under EBSS Alternative Funding include:
Care home residents and others in care facilities/sheltered accommodation (wholly or partly self-funded).
Park home residents.
Houseboats and caravans that can provide proof of address.
Social and private tenants who pay for energy through a landlord on a commercial supply.
Homes on a heat network/private wire.
Off-grid homes.
Farmhouses used for wholly domestic purposes.
Customers eligible for support under the main Energy Bills Support Scheme are not eligible for support under the alternative funding aspect of the scheme.
To check eligibility and apply for the £400 of support, people need to search for “Apply for energy bill support if you do not get it automatically” in the search bar on GOV.UK or in an internet search engine.
For those without online access, the contact centre helpline can be reached on 0808 175 3287 for applicants in Great Britain, or 0808 175 3894 for applicants in Northern Ireland, where a representative will guide them through the application process.
The helpline is open 8am to 6pm on Monday to Friday.
Applicants who are unable to submit a form via the online portal or contact centre, for example due to a medical condition, can have a trusted family member, friend, or carer, apply online on their behalf, as long as the applicant’s details and proof of their consent are provided.
Applications that pass initial checks are then shared with an applicant’s Local Authority for further verification - either using existing information such as council tax records or they may write to request additional information if this is needed to confirm eligibility.
Local Authorities will make the payments to successful applicants.
The EBSS alternative funding scheme is open to all eligible households across Great Britain and Northern Ireland until May 31.
