Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding
The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) is providing support of £400 for energy bills for households in England, Scotland, and Wales without a direct relationship to a domestic electricity supplier. This support is provided by His Majesty’s Government and is delivered by local authorities. The scheme is now open to all eligible households across Great Britain until 31 May 2023.
Eligibility
Subject to applications meeting the eligibility criteria, people who will be able to receive support
under EBSS AF 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
If you use alternative fuels for heating
You may be eligible for a £200 Alternative Fuels Payment (AFP) if both the following are true:
- your household is not connected to the mains gas grid
- you use alternative fuels as your main form of heating
This is on top of the £400 from your electricity supplier.
You’re eligible for this payment if the main way you heat your home uses:
- tank or bottled gas
- liquid petroleum gas (LPG)
- oil
- wood
- solid fuel
Most homes that are eligible for this payment will get it automatically as a credit on their electricity bills from February 2023.
You may not get the payment automatically if your home is either:
- in an area which is mainly connected to the gas grid
- not connected to either the gas or the electricity grid
If you do not get this payment automatically
You may have to apply for this payment through the AFP Alternative Fund if you do not get it automatically - for example, because you do not have a contract with an electricity supplier.
How to apply
If you are eligible for EBSS AF, you will need to fill out a short online form via the GOV.UK website. This form can be found by searching “Apply for energy bill support if you do not get it automatically” into the search bar on GOV.UK or an internet search engine. Applications are made directly to His Majesty’s Government, not to or via Local Authorities. If you do not have online access, you can apply via a contact centre on 08081753287 where a representative will guide you through the application process.
Once you have applied, your application will be processed and verified. After this if your application is successful, your details will be shared with local authorities, who will deliver the one-off, non-repayable support. The payment will be made directly into your bank account in a single instalment.
Further information can be found on GOV.UK.
