Energy Discount Schemes & Hardship Funds
Energy Discount Schemes & Hardship Funds
This is a UK-wide scheme that can provide help with energy costs via a one-off discount of up to £150 on your electricity bill, depending on your circumstances.
To qualify for ‘Core Group 1’ you must already be receiving the ‘Guarantee Credit’ element of Pension Credit.
To qualify for ‘Core Group 2’ you must be experiencing a combination of low income and high energy costs. The government will determine this based on the benefits you receive, your household size and information about your home.
For more information on eligibility, click the button below.
If you are of pensionable age, living with a disability, chronic illness or visual/hearing impairment (or someone in your household is), ask your energy supplier if you are eligible for its Priority Services Register. This provides you with free extra services and may help protect you from disconnection if you struggle to pay your energy bills (if your supplier has signed up to the Energy UK Safety Net scheme).
For more information, including eligibility details:
Winter Fuel Payments (WFPs) are annual one-off payments of between £100 and £300, paid to all eligible pensioner households to help with the cost of fuel. There are no income or savings limits for WFPs and they are not taxable. You should not need to apply for the payment, as it is paid automatically.
For more information, including eligibility details:
You are entitled to a Cold Weather Payment for any week when the average temperature in your area has been, or is expected to be, 0°Celsius or below for seven consecutive days and: you are receiving Pension Credit (or another ‘specified benefit’); and you are not living in a care home. You should not need to make a claim as payments are made automatically into your bank or building society account. Cold Weather Payments are £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March. Cold Weather Payments do not affect other benefits.
Check out further details, including eligibility here:
The HelpU tariff helps low income households by putting a cap on the amount you have to pay for your water. How does it work? The HelpU tariff helps the lowest income households in our region. If you qualify, they will cap your water bill so you won’t pay over a certain amount for the year. If you have a water meter, you will never pay more than the amount you have used. If your consumption is less than the HelpU cap amount, you will only be billed for the amount of water you have used.
For more information, including eligibility details:
The Customer Assistance Fund is designed to help those in severe financial hardship to clear debt and get on top of their payments. How does it work? If you’re successful in your application, they’ll set up a monthly, fortnightly or weekly payment plan for your current year’s charges. Once you have made payments for 6 months, they will pay off 50% of your previous arrears. If you make payments for a further 6 months, they will then pay off the rest of your previous arrears.
For more information, including eligibility details:
If you already have a meter, or have requested one, the WaterSure scheme puts a cap on the amount you have to pay for your water. How does it work? WaterSure caps your annual metered bill amount so you won’t pay over a certain amount for the year, no matter what your actual consumption is.
More details, including eligibility: