Government launches portal for 900,000 additional GB households to apply for £400 payments towards energy bills
Most households in England, Scotland and Wales get a £400 discount on their energy bills automatically. In some cases, you do not get the discount automatically, for example if you:
- pay for energy through a landlord, housing manager or site owner
- live in a park home, houseboat or off the electricity grid
The Government has now launched a new portal for those households who have not received the £400 automatically, and it is open for applications.
This payment will not be automatic. You will need to visit the official Government website and fill in a short form which will start the process. To apply, please visit: www.gov.uk/apply-energy-bill-support-if-not-automatic
Use this service to apply for the discount if you do not get it automatically. You can only make one application per household.
Eligible homes
You may be eligible to apply if your main home is:
- a residential park home
- on a boat on a permanent residential mooring
- on a permanent Gypsy and Traveller site
- part of a heat network without an electricity meter
- in social or private rented accommodation which has a business energy connection or a communal electricity supply
- off the mains electricity or gas grid
- in a care home or assisted living facility and you pay for some or all of your care
- in a separate domestic home within a non-domestic property (such as a farmhouse or a flat above a shop)
Who should apply
You can apply if:
- you pay for the energy your household uses
- you’re applying for your main, permanent home
- you have a fixed address in England, Scotland or Wales
Who cannot apply
Most households get the £400 support automatically. You do not need to apply if you or your landlord:
- has a domestic energy meter
- pay your bills directly to an energy supplier (such as British Gas or EDF)
You cannot apply if you’ve already had Energy Bills Support Scheme payments. This is 6 automatic monthly payments or prepayment meter vouchers of £66 or £67 from your energy supplier, from October 2022.
You also cannot apply for a discount if you live:
- in purpose-built student accommodation
- in a care home and do not pay any of your fees
- on a boat with a continuous cruising licence (currently under review)
- on a non-permanent caravan or mobile home site (currently under review)
- in accommodation provided by your employer (such as seasonal workers, ‘service occupiers’, security guards, building caretakers)
- in a building where you are acting as a property guardian
- in business premises, such as a pub or hotel, where your address is the same as the business address
Before you start
You will need:
- an email address and phone number (if you have one)
- your bank account details (a UK current account in your name)
If you’re not registered for Council Tax
You’ll need to upload proof of address (such as a bank statement or tenancy agreement) as part of your application.
If you live in a care home
You’ll also need to upload either:
- an invoice for your care home fees from the past 3 months
- an official document from the care home including your name and address, a funding statement and the name and address of the care home
After you apply, Wealden District Council, will confirm your eligibility. You’ll be told about the progress of your application by email or letter and you should receive a response within 6 weeks. If you’re eligible, the Council will arrange a one-off payment.
If you need help to apply
If you do not have internet access, or cannot complete the form for any other reason, please call the Government’s Alternative Funding scheme helpline team on 0808 175 3287 Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, and an operator will help fill in the application with you.
