Help with energy bills and debts

This page tells you about:

• help from the household support fund

• support with energy debts

• winter fuel payments if you're pension age

• warm home discount and cold weather payments

• the priority services register (PSR) - what it is and how to join

• changing your energy supplier or how you pay your bills

• energy scams to watch out for

Household support fund

The household support fund can help pay for energy bills, food and other important items.

You apply through your local council.

Support with energy debts

Ask the company you pay your bills to for help.

Most energy companies can offer some help to their customers.

Check your supplier's website to find out how they can help:

• British Gas Energy Trust

• EDF priority services register

• E.ON Next energy fund

• Octopus Energy

• OVO Energy customer support

• Scottish Power hardship fund

Ask your supplier for help even if they're not listed above.

If your supplier cannot help, you could get support from British Gas Energy Trust.

Free advice from a debt charity

Try to pay your energy bills, council tax and rent or mortgage before your other debts.

A debt adviser could help you:

• work out what to pay first

• apply for breathing space to pause debt recovery

Winter fuel payments if you're pension age

You can get a winter fuel payment if you're pension age and get one of these benefits:

• pension credit

• universal credit (UC)

• income related ESA

To get winter fuel payments next winter make sure you have claimed one of these benefits by September 2025.

See GOV.UK: winter fuel payments.

Most pension age people on a low income can get pension credit but you have to apply for UC if you live with a working age partner.

See Age UK: pension credit.

Warm home discount

You could get £150 off your electricity bill in winter if you get:

• pension credit guarantee

• another low income benefit

Your energy supplier must be part of the scheme. The bill must be in your name or your partner's name.

It's not a cash payment and does not affect your benefits.

Cold weather payments

The cold weather payment scheme runs from 1 November to 31 March.

You could get a £25 cold weather payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded or forecast as below freezing for at least a week.

Cold weather payments are made automatically. You do not have to apply.

You might get cold weather payments if you get any of these:

• pension credit

• universal credit

• other low income benefits

Not everyone on these benefits gets cold weather payments.

See GOV.UK: cold weather payments.

Priority services register

The priority services register (PSR) lets your energy and water companies know if you need extra support.

You can join the PSR if any of these apply to you:

• you are pension age

• you live with children under 5

• you are disabled or have a health condition

• you need information in a different format or another language

You can sign up for priority services on the PSR website.

Benefits of joining include:

• help with meter readings

• information in an accessible format or another language

• priority support in a power cut or if your water or gas go off

• passwords so you know someone who calls or comes to your home is genuine

Switching energy suppliers

Changing your gas or electricity supplier can sometimes save you money.

You do not need your landlord's permission to switch unless bills are included in your rent.

Let your landlord know who the new supplier is when you move out.

See Citizens Advice: switching energy suppliers.

Changing from prepayment to a credit meter

You can ask your supplier to switch to a credit meter if you think it's a better choice.

You do not need your landlord's permission to switch from a prepayment meter to a credit meter. You may have to change back to a prepayment meter before you move out.

See Citizens Advice: switching from a prepayment to a credit meter.

Energy scams are common

Scammers might:

• message you on online or come to your door

• say they can get you a discount or grants to help pay bills

• offer to change your meter to a smart meter to save money

• ask for details to switch you to a cheaper energy deal

Do not give your bank details or personal information.

If you think it could be a genuine scheme, contact your energy supplier direct to check. Find the number from their website. Do not use a number or email address from a message, email, or sales person.

You can only change your meter with your energy company's permission and a qualified engineer must do this. It could be dangerous if someone else changes it. A scam could cost you more money.

See Energy Saving Trust: How to spot an energy scam.

Still need help?

These charities have online advice or helplines:

• Help through Hardship helpline (Trussell)

• Disability energy support (Scope)

• Age UK advice line