Energy bills support scheme
The energy bills support scheme has two elements, that subsidise household energy costs for people who do not have mains electric or gas or did not receive the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) payment because they do not pay their provider directly themselves.
The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS Alternative Funding) is a £400 payment for households either without a domestic electricity meter or people without a direct relationship with an energy supplier (e.g. care home residents and park homes).
A further £200 Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) is also available to help reduce energy costs for households who use alternative fuels such as biomass or heating oil.
Find out more about the energy bills support scheme.
Energy Bill Support Scheme – Alternative Funding (EBSS Alternative Funding)
The alternative funding is available for households who were not eligible for the government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) which provided a £400 reduction on electricity and gas bills. It supports residents who live in households without a domestic electricity meter or do not have a direct relationship with an energy supplier.
It is expected that the guidance will confirm the following people as potentially eligible:
- care home residents
- residents of park homes
- tenants in certain private and social rented homes
- homes supplied via private wires
- residents of caravans and houseboats on registered sites
- farmers living in domestic farmhouses
- off-grid households
This scheme is processed differently to the energy rebate (£150 payment) which was processed entirely by local authorities and the EBSS which was administered directly by the energy providers. For the EBSS Alternative Funding the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is processing claims and determining eligibility.
To make the process as simple as possible, those people who are eligible for the EBSS Alternative Funding need to submit a short online form via the government’s website.
A dedicated customer helpline will be available to assist households who do not have internet access, with further details to be released soon.
After completed applications have been submitted, processed, and verified, payment details for the eligible household will be shared with local authorities, who will deliver the one-off, non-repayable support this winter.
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
Anyone who is eligible for support under the main Energy Bills Support Scheme is not eligible for EBSS Alternative Funding.
Applying for the scheme
Applicants can only submit information through the government website and should not contact their local authority directly.
Households will never be asked to apply for EBSS Alternative Funding by email or text.
You can apply for the EBSS Alternative Funding through the online application portal. Search for “Apply for energy bill support if you do not get it automatically” on the government’s website.
Find out about the support available through help for households.
Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP)
The government is also providing a £200 Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) to help cover energy costs for those households who use fuels such as biomass or heating oil.
Most households eligible for the AFP, will receive payment automatically via their electricity supplier in February 2023, with no need to take any action.
Those households who will need to apply for the AFP, because they do not have a relationship with an electricity supplier, will be able to do so from Monday 27 February through the government’s website.
