Help with energy bills

This Library briefing sets out sources of financial and practical help for constituents with their domestic energy bills. This briefing focuses on schemes that individuals can access via the government and local authorities, rather than those aimed at local authorities or housing associations. It covers targeted schemes and provides information on practical steps such as supplier switching, joining priority services registers, and making complaints. It also provides links to useful resources.

Support schemes covered include:

• The Winter Fuel Payment, an annual, tax-free lump-sum payment to help older people meet the cost of their winter fuel bills in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. People eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2025/26 will receive it unless they have opted out, but some will need to pay it back. If a person’s individual taxable income is over £35,000 for the 2025/26 tax year, their payment will be recouped via the tax system.
• The Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, which has replaced the Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland. As with the Winter Fuel Payment, any payment received by someone with an individual taxable income of more than £35,000 in 2025/26 will be recouped via the tax system.
• Cold Weather Payments, which are made to households in England, Wales and Northern Ireland getting Pension Credit, and to certain working-age households on means-tested benefits including Universal Credit, during periods of very cold weather. The payments are £25 for each week of cold weather. The scheme runs from 1 November to 31 March each winter.
• The Winter Heating Payment has replaced Cold Weather Payments in Scotland, and the amount paid to eligible households does not depend on weather conditions. Winter Heating Payments will be paid to eligible households from December 2025.
• The Household Support Fund, which allows local authorities (county councils and unitary authorities) in England to provide discretionary support to vulnerable households in the most need with the cost of essentials. This may include support with energy bills and energy efficiency measures.
• Schemes providing discretionary support, which could include assistance with energy bills, also exist in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• The Warm Home Discount Scheme provides a discount of £150 off electricity bills between October and March for eligible customers in England, Wales and Scotland. Eligible customers are essentially those who get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or have a low income evidenced by other specified benefit receipt. Electricity suppliers will apply the discount to the bill automatically in England and Wales if eligible. In Scotland people on low income need to contact their energy suppliers to apply.

The government’s Help with your energy bills webpage sets out the support which may be available to households on benefits and low-income households.

The energy regulator, Ofgem’s Get help with your energy bills also sets out the support provided by government, energy suppliers and other organisations.

The following Library briefings provide more information on energy bills and wider support available to help constituents with these:

• Gas and electricity prices during the ‘energy crisis’ and beyond

This briefing covers latest data on wholesale gas and electricity prices, the Energy Price Guarantee, the price cap and prospects for changes to prices in the future.

• Domestic energy prices

This paper details the reasons behind household energy bills which increased by 54% in April 2022 and 27% in October 2022. Lower wholesale prices have led to falls in prices, but current bills are still 43% above their winter 2021/22 levels.

• Energy standing charges

This paper explains what standing charges are, how they have changed over time, how and why they vary, and what proposals the regulator Ofgem has for lowering them.

• Help with energy efficiency, heating and renewable energy in homes

This briefing outlines the available financial support for installing energy efficiency, heating and renewable energy in homes. Covers the various support schemes to support domestic energy efficiency, heating and power generation, which households may be able to access.

• Constituency casework: What benefits might people claim

Summarises how people can find out what social security benefits or tax credits they might be able to claim. This information should not be relied upon as legal or professional advice.

• High cost of living: Impact on households

This briefing covers how the high period of inflation in the UK from 2021 to 2024 continues to affect household incomes, spending, poverty, savings and debt.

• Cost of living and inflation

This page contains Library research on the rising cost of living including energy costs, the causes of inflation, the effect on households, and Government support.