Worried about your bills this winter? Help is out there

Here’s how to get support if you are struggling to afford to pay your bills over the winter months.

How to get a grant from your energy supplier

Some energy suppliers offer grants to customers to help them pay their energy bills. Reach out to your supplier or check their website to see if they offer a grant or fund to low-income customers – or you could think about switching suppliers. We’ve listed a few which offer grants below.

British Gas 

The British Gas Energy Support Fund is open to applications from British Gas credit and prepayment meter customers who have an energy debt of up to £2,000. There is also the Individual and Families Debt Write Off Fund, which is for people with a debt of up to £1,700 – and for this one you don’t have to be a British Gas customer. You’ll need to seek help from your local money advice centre first and be able to show that you’ve thought about how you will manage your costs in the future.

Scottish Power

Scottish Power has a hardship fund to help low-income households get their energy payments under control. It can help by clearing or reducing arrears by crediting a customer’s Scottish Power energy account.

EDF

EDF Customer Support Fund provides support for individuals struggling to manage their household energy debt.

E.ON Next

The E.ON Next Energy Fund could help you pay your current or final energy bills and potentially replace old appliances.

Octopus

Octopus customers can access a form on the website that asks questions about your financial situation and offers a number of support options including access to existing schemes, monetary support from the Octo Assist Fund, or a loan of a thermal imagery camera to find heat leaks at home.

How to get charitable grants to help pay your energy bills

People who are struggling financially may be eligible for charitable grants. There are a huge range of grants available for different people – including those who are bereaved, disabled, unemployed, redundant, ill, a carer, veteran, young person or old person.

Grants are also usually available to people who have no recourse to public funds and cannot claim welfare benefits. Turn2Us helps people to access grants and support services if they’re in financial difficulty. If you contact them, they’ll check what’s available to you. 

Glasspool gives small grants for things like white goods, beds, bedding, children’s clothing and baby needs. For most charitable grants, you need to get a referral from a professional like a social worker, health professional, school or advice service.

Family Action provides practical, emotional and financial support to those who are experiencing poverty, disadvantage and social isolation across the country. You could also contact a recognised debt advice agency such as StepChange debt charity or the Debt Advice Foundation for advice if you are struggling with debt.

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How to get help from your local council if you can’t pay your energy bills

Your local council may have a scheme that can help. Councils may be able to give debt advice, help you get furniture or support you through food and fuel poverty. It is worth checking out your council’s website or contacting them directly. Your council may have a local welfare assistance scheme, also known as crisis support. Find out what support your council offers through End Furniture Poverty’s local welfare assistance finder.

What are your rights if you can’t afford to pay your energy bills?

If your bills are too expensive and you can’t afford them, your energy supplier has an obligation to help, as regulated by Ofgem. They might be able to create a payment plan for you, and you can ask for emergency credit if you use a prepayment meter and can’t top up. 

You should complain to your supplier in the first instance if you believe that you are not being treated fairly.  

If that doesn’t work, you can escalate your complaint. Simon Francis, from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, advises people to write to their MP as this can often prompt energy firms to act. You can also bring complaints to the energy ombudsman.

Benefits you can get in the winter months

You may be eligible for benefits and welfare support. Citizens Advice can advise what financial support is available from the government to help you. 

You could be entitled to benefits and tax credits. Use the charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator to find out if you are entitled to claim. 

The government’s Help for Households website explains what support you could be eligible for. 

Winter fuel payment

The winter fuel payment is intended to help pensioners cover the extra costs of heating in the coldest months. It is a payment of between £100 and £300 and most eligible households will receive it automatically in November and December. 

Last year, it was only paid to low-income households in receipt of pension credit. This year, it will be paid to all people of eligible age (born before 22 September 1959) – but HMRC will take your payment back if your income is over £35,000. Check the government’s website.

Cold weather payment

If you live in England and Wales you might get the cold weather payment if you get certain benefits and the temperature drops below 0 for seven consecutive days. This is £25 for each time.

Winter heating payment

Scotland’s winter heating payment of £59.75 is paid from December. Eligible households will get the payment automatically. There’s also a child winter heating payment of £255.80 to help disabled children.

What are warm banks and how could they help you if you can’t afford to keep warm?

If you are struggling to pay your heating bills, warm banks could be a lifeline on colder days. These were a new phenomenon at the start of the cost of living crisis, set up to make sure people have a place to stay warm when they cannot afford to put on their heating. Now, there are thousands across the country – a true indicator of the scale of financial difficulties. These are run by councils, charities, museums, sports centres, libraries, NHS services and other organisations. Most libraries across the country have acted as a warm space over the last few years.

Warm Welcome supports a network of more than 5,000 warm spaces, and it has a virtual map of them, making it much easier to find one near you. All you need to do is type in your postcode and you’ll be able to find any warm spaces registered with the campaign in your area. 

Last winter, there were 2.6 million visits to warm spaces. But people didn’t just go for warmth. They also went for company. Around 70% of people surveyed by Warm Welcome said that since coming to a warm space, they now never or rarely feel isolated.

Another way to find a warm bank near you is to look on your local council’s website or contact it directly. Even if it is not running a warm bank itself, it should be able to direct you to a charity or other community organisation which is offering this kind of support.

What is a Multibank and how can it help?

It is, say Gordon and Sarah Brown, a bank of banks, in communities that need it. A food bank, clothes bank, baby bank, hygiene bank and furniture bank all rolled into one. The idea grew out of Fife and a community bank called the Big House Project. Former PM Gordon Brown got behind it. Multibanks connect companies that have surplus goods with charities that distribute items to people in need. The aim is to “reduce the effects of poverty while contributing to a more circular economy”. There are currently six multibanks across the UK.

When vet bills are a struggle

Vet prices have galloped at nearly twice the rate of inflation. The competition watchdog recommended earlier in October that vets are forced to publish price lists so people aren’t whacked by unexpected bills. But this doesn’t help if you don’t have the money in the first place. And pets problems can arise so quickly. The RSPCA recommends your first step should be to speak honestly with your vet about what you can afford; there may be a less costly way to treat your pet, or they may offer a payment plan. 

Charities can help with the essentials for your pet. PDSA offers free or subsidised treatment for those on means-tested benefits who live in the catch-ment areas of its clinics. Grants are also available; Blue Cross provides grants of up to £300. 

Different charities can provide assistance for specific pets. Dogs Trust has a scheme to cover vet care if you’re homeless. Cats Protection has financial assistance for those on means-tested benefits looking to neuter a cat. Your local RSPCA branch may be able to provide a voucher for discounted neutering procedures. 

Blue Cross and the RSPCA both run pet food banks in the UK. Most of the food Blue Cross offers is for cats and dogs. Get in touch directly if you have another animal, or if your pet has a special diet. 

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. 

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