Fuel Support

Household Support Fund

The government announced that vulnerable households across the country will be able to access a new support fund to help them with essentials over the winter known as the Household Support Fund. For more information on this visit our webpage here.

Fuel & Food Money Saving Tips 

We have created a guide to help with support and guidance for fuel and food poverty.

View this guide by clicking here. 

Please note that information was correct at the time of publish, with continuous changes and more support available we encourage you to contact the company direct for more up to date information. 

Please see below for more support and guidance. 

Government energy support this winter

Eligibility

All households with a domestic electricity connection in England, Scotland and Wales are eligible for the discount.

If your circumstances change

You’ll still get the discount if:

  • you change your payment method
  • you change your tariff
  • you switch electricity supplier
  • you move to a new address
  • your supplier goes bust
  • you’re in arrears on your electricity bill payments

How you’ll get the discount

You do not need to apply for the discount, and there’s no need to contact your energy supplier.

The discount will be applied to your monthly household electricity bill for 6 months starting in October 2022. You’ll get:

  • £66 in October and November
  • £67 in December, January, February and March

You’ll get the discount monthly, even if you pay for your energy quarterly or use a payment card.

Traditional prepayment meter users will get equivalent vouchers that you will need to redeem - see If you have a traditional prepayment meter for more information.

Your electricity supplier should provide more guidance on the scheme before it starts.

If you have not received your first instalment by the end of October 2022, you need to contact your supplier.

If you’re a direct debit customer

You’ll get the discount automatically in one of the following ways, as:

  • a reduction to your monthly direct debit amount
  • a refund to your bank account following the monthly direct debit collection

If you pay by standard credit or payment card

Your discount will be automatically applied as a credit to your account in the first week of each month. The credit will appear as it would if you had made a payment.

If you have a smart prepayment meter

Your discount will be credited directly to your smart prepayment meter in the first week of each month.

If you have a traditional prepayment meter

You’ll get the discount from the first week of each month. You’ll get the discount automatically in one of the following ways, as:

  • redeemable vouchers, sent by SMS text, email or post
  • an automatic credit when you top up at your usual top up point

Your electricity supplier will let you know in advance how you will get your discount.

Your supplier should have your contact details, but if you’re not sure or you don’t receive any information from them, you should check that they have your latest number and email.

If you get vouchers you’ll need to redeem them at a top-up point. Your supplier will tell you where to redeem them, for example at a Post Office branch or a PayPoint shop.

Payzone outlets are unable to accept the vouchers.

Other help

If you’re in debt to your energy supplier, you might be able to get a grant to help pay it off.

You may be able to get other kinds of support, including:

Kent Fire & Rescue Save Safely

If you’re thinking about doing things differently at home to bring down the price of energy bills, it’s important to remember do so safely. This can include thinking about the hazards that come with changing your usual routine. 

To find out more about energy saving tips, heating hazards and financial advice follow this link  Savesafely | Kent Fire and Rescue Service (fire-uk.org)

Green Doctors

Green Doctors offer free, impartial advice to help you take control of your bills, save energy where possible in the home, and access other services and initiatives available.

They can provide different kinds of support, whether that’s advice on paying off debt with energy or water companies or spotting other concerns for a referral to other services.

Some of the reasons people ask them for help are:

  • Struggling to pay energy bills.
  • Finding it hard to manage fuel debt.
  • Worrying about keeping warm or choosing between eating and heating.
  • Feeling that the home is cold, damp, or draughty.
  • Respiratory problems e.g. asthma or a persistent cough

Visit their website here: Green Doctor, helping UK residents stay warm, stay well, and save energy. - Groundwork