British Gas reopens £2,000 energy support fund

This Monday (4 November), energy supplier British Gas is reopening its energy support fund scheme  to help  customers who are having trouble paying their energy bills.

This year, the fund offers grants of up to £2,000 – £500 more than last winter.

Who can apply for the fund?

To qualify for a grant, you must be a British Gas customer and:

• live in England, Scotland or Wales
• not have received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust in the last 12 months
• have a credit or prepayment meter with unpaid debt
• received free debt advice in the last six months

You’ll need to show proof of income, and your household expenses will be checked to see if you're at risk of fuel poverty.

How to apply

To apply for the grant, visit the British Gas website from Monday (4 November).

Support if you’re not a British Gas customer

British Gas might still be able to help you with your bills, even if you’re not with them.

The individual and families fund from the British Gas Energy Trust offers up to £1,700 to help with energy debt, regardless of your energy supplier.

Eligibility for the individual and families fund

To be eligible, you must:

• have energy debt between £50 and £1,700 if using a prepayment meter
• have energy debt between £250 and £1,700 if you’re a credit customer
• live in England, Scotland or Wales
• not have received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust in the last two years
• asked for help with your energy debts
• received free debt advice in the last six months

If your energy debt is over £1,700, you won't qualify – so you should check your provider’s own hardship schemes first.

Other energy suppliers with grants

Many energy suppliers have grant schemes to support vulnerable customers. Here’s some of the main ones:

• EDF Energy – consumer support fund
• E.ON Next – cash grants
• Octopus Energy – Octopus energy assist fund
• ScottishPower – hardship fund
• Utilita – Utilita giving
• Utility Warehouse – assistance through Citizens Advice Plymouth

You can read more about these grants in our guide about the different grants and benefits you can get to help you pay for your energy bills.

There’s the household support fund too. It’s been extended to help the most vulnerable households pay for essentials like food and utility bills. Contact your local council to find out if you're eligible.

Struggling to pay your energy bills?

Find out what to do if you’re having trouble with your energy bills in our guide.

Whatever you do, don’t ignore the problem. Falling behind on energy payments is serious and can lead to your gas or electricity being cut off.

Reach out to your supplier as soon as you start facing difficulties. They will try to find a payment plan that works for both of you.

If money is tight, make sure you're receiving all the benefits you're eligible for. If you've tried everything and still can't cover your costs, it may be time to ask for free debt advice.

We can go through your personal circumstances and finances in detail and talk through the options available to you. You can access our advice online or over the phone.