Help with energy bills from the government
Introduction
The government introduced a £400 discount to help with your energy bills during the winter of 2022/23. This is called the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) and for most citizens your gas or electricity supplier will credit your household electricity bill and/or gas bills between October 2022 and March 2023.
However, there are a number of households who either pay for their electricity in a different way or who use a fuel other than gas to heat their homes. Two additional schemes have been introduced to support these households:
- EBSS Alternative Funding: this provides a £400 payment if you don't have a domestic electricity meter and contract, or you live in a care home or supported accommodation
- EBSS Alternative Fuels: this provides a £200 payment if you don't use mains gas to heat your home
You may be eligible for a £400 payment if all the following apply:
- you pay for the energy that your household uses; and
- you're applying for your main, permanent home; and
- you have a fixed address in England, Scotland or Wales; and
- you haven't already received an automatic payment (credited to your electricity and/or gas bill)
For more information see:
See also:
Help if you don't have a domestic electricity meter and contract
The way that you get energy support will be different if you don't have a domestic electricity meter and contract with an electricity supplier.
This could be because you live:
- in a park home
- in a care home or supported accommodation
- in a household supplied by a heat network
- on a houseboat
- off the electricity grid
- or because your home has a communal electricity supply or a non-domestic electricity connection, or because you don't have a contract with an electricity supplier.
Payments are £400.
See:
Help if you live in a care home or supported accommodation
You may be eligible for a payment if you:
- live in a care home or sheltered and supported accommodation; and
- pay for some or all of your care fees (either directly or through a reduction in your pension or other benefits)
Payments are £400.
See:
How to claim EBSS Alternative Funding payment
The only way you (or someone on your behalf) can make a claim for an EBSS Alternative Funding payment is via the GOV.UK website:
If you cannot apply online or need help with your application, contact the government helpline team:
- Email: alternativefudnding@ebss.beis.gov.uk
- Phone: 0808 175 3287
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Note: Claims cannot be made directly to Adur & Worthing Councils, so please don't contact us because we won't be able to help you.
Help if you use alternative fuels for heating
You may be eligible for a £200 EBSS Alternative Fuels payment (AFP) if:
- your home isn't connected to the mains gas grid; and
- you use alternative fuels as your main form of heating
You're eligible for this payment if the main way you heat your home uses a gas tank, bottled gas, liquid petroleum gas (LPG), oil, wood or solid fuel. This is on top of the £400 from your electricity supplier.
Most homes that are eligible for this payment will get it automatically as a credit on their electricity bills from February 2023. However, you may not get the payment if your home is either:
- in an area which is mainly connected to the gas grid
or - not connected to either the gas or the electricity grid
How to claim EBSS Alternative Fuels payment (AFP)
The only way you (or someone on your behalf) can make a claim for an EBSS Alternative Fuels payment is via the GOV.UK website:
If you cannot apply online or need help with your application, contact the government helpline team:
- Telephone: 0808 175 3943
- Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Note: Claims cannot be made directly to Adur & Worthing Councils, so please don't contact us because we won't be able to help you.
Page last updated: 10 March 2023