Over the course of the last few months, there has been a dramatic rise in the cost of energy, largely stemming from Russia’s senseless, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. This has driven gas prices to record highs and, as result, put unavoidable pressure on families’ budgets and made many people worry that they will struggle to afford their energy bills this winter.
As such the Government has launched an extensive support package for households. This totals £1200 of support for the most vulnerable households and includes grants of £650 for those on means-tested benefits, £300 for pensioners in receipt of Winter Fuel Payments and £150 for recipients of disability benefits. These grants will be on top of the £400 payment that will go to all households later this year.
Furthermore, from 1st October, a new ‘Energy Price Guarantee’ will mean a typical UK household will now pay up to an average £2,500 a year on their energy bill for the next two years. This is automatic and applies to all households. This will save the average household at least £1,000 a year based on current energy prices from October and is in addition to the £400 energy bills discount for all households. This applies to all households in Great Britain, with the same level of support made available to households in Northern Ireland.
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This page will be updated as more support is made available in the coming weeks. Attached at the bottom of this page is a helpful leaflet if you have concerns about money over the coming months.
More information on the current support can be found here:
https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/
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All UK households will get a grant which will reduce energy bills by £400 from October.
- the discount will be made automatically by your energy supplier
- there is no need to apply
Over the course of six months from October;
- direct debit
- and credit customers
will have the money credited to their account.
Customers with pre-payment meters will have the money applied to their meter or paid via a voucher.
A typical household will save an average of £1,000 a year on their energy bills, under a new two-year Energy Price Guarantee
What additional help will people on benefits get?
A £650 payment will be made to more than eight million low-income households who receive
- Universal Credit
- tax credits
- pension credit
- and other means-tested benefits
This will be an automatic payment into bank accounts.
It comes in two instalments - the first in July and the second sometime in autumn. Payments for those on tax credits only will follow shortly afterwards.
Those on disability benefits will receive £150 in September, which may be on top of the £650 payment because in many cases they have higher energy use.
Anyone receiving the following benefits will be entitled to the extra £150:
- Disability Living Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Armed Forces Independence Payment,
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- and War Pension Mobility Supplement
What extra help will pensioners get for winter fuel bills?
Households that receive the Winter Fuel Payment will receive an additional £300 in November or December.
Lower-income pensioners who claim pension credit will receive the money in addition to the £650 support for those on benefits which are mentioned above.
A small group of pensioners with disabilities will receive a total of £1,500 when all the new payments and discounts they are eligible for are added up.