Help with energy bills and the cost of living

If you find it hard to pay bills, you could get help from:

• your council

• your energy supplier

• the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

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

Get debt advice if you need help with this.

You could also:

• get help with rent

• get help with council tax

Help with energy debts

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

Most energy suppliers can offer some help to their customers. If your supplier is not listed above you should still ask them for help.

Your supplier can help you get free debt and energy advice through a debt charity.

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

Household support fund

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

You apply through your local council.

Winter fuel payments if you're pension age

You can get a winter fuel payment if you were born before 23 September 1958, and you get one of these benefits:

• pension credit

• universal credit

• income related ESA

You must have been getting one of these benefits, another legacy benefit or tax credits during the week of 16 to 22 September 2024.

You should have had a letter in October or November telling you how much your winter fuel payment is.

You get:

• £200 if you were born on or after 23 September 1944

• £300 if you were born before 23 September 1944

If you get benefits with your partner, you get £300 if either of you were born before 23 September 1944.

Your payment is usually paid into the same bank account as your benefits.

Check GOV.UK updates on winter fuel payments.

On a low income in retirement?

Check if you could get pension credit if you are over state pension age and have a low income.

There are 2 parts of pension credit: Guarantee credit and savings credit.

Guarantee pension credit tops up your weekly income to:

• £218.15 a week if you're single

• £332.95 if you claim as a couple

You could claim guarantee pension credit if your income is less than this.

You might also get it if your income is over these limits, but you:

• have a severe disability

• are a carer

• have certain housing costs, like service charges

• are responsible for children or young people who live with you

You might also get extra amounts if any of these things apply.

Find out more about claiming pension credit on Age UK.

£150 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.

If you get pension credit

You should have had a letter that says you get warm home discount.

Your energy supplier applies the discount to your bill over winter. You do not need to do anything.

If you get universal credit or another low income benefit

You should have had a letter asking you to call 0800 030 9324 to check if you can get the discount.

Once you call the number, if you can get the discount your energy supplier applies it to your bill.

Cold weather payments

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

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

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

• income related ESA

• income support

• income based JSA

• support for mortgage interest (SMI)

Not everyone on these benefits gets cold weather payments.

Check the rules for cold weather payments on GOV.UK.

Switching energy suppliers

Citizens Advice explains things to think about before switching energy suppliers.

You do not need your landlord's permission to switch unless they pay your energy bills.

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

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.

Citizens Advice explains how to change from a prepayment to a credit meter.

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.

Service charge increases for heating and hot water

Some council and housing association tenants pay a service charge for heating and hot water if there's a shared system.

Service charge increases are common because of the rise in energy costs. You cannot always get benefits to cover service charges for heating.

Read our advice on help with paying service charges and how to challenge increases.

Beware of energy scams

Energy scams are even more common now energy bills are so high.

Scammers might message you on social media or by text, or knock on your door.

They might:

• 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 get a message, email or a visit that you are not expecting.

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.

Still need help?

StepChange gives advice on dealing with debts for gas and electricity.

Find out about utility bills and your rights if you rent privately.

The Trussell Trust Help through Hardship helpline can give personalised support with money, benefits and mental health.

Disability charity Scope has a Disability Energy Support service for disabled people and their families. They give advice and support on energy and how to sort out problems with bills.