Energy and heating bills
This section covers help with gas and electricity costs, including discounts, payments and what to do if you’re struggling to pay.
What financial support is available for energy bills?
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The Warm Home Discount is a one-off £150 discount on your electricity bill. It’s designed to help people on low incomes and some pensioners with energy costs.
If you’re eligible, you’ll receive a letter advising you to call a helpline where your eligibility can be confirmed and the discount applied. It’s important to call this number before the deadline mentioned in the letter expires.
Eligibility
Only some households qualify for this discount. You must:
- Receive means-tested benefits
- Live in a property with a high energy cost
These criteria have been expanded from previous years to include working-age households.
The scheme doesn’t apply in Northern Ireland.
How it works
- The discount is applied by your electricity supplier
- In England and Wales, most people get it automatically if they’re eligible
- In Scotland, you may need to apply through your energy supplier
- You’ll usually see the discount applied as a credit on your bill
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England and Wales
You could get between £100 and £300 to help pay your heating bills if you live in England or Wales and were born before 28 June 1960.
Most people who are eligible get the payment automatically. If you qualify, you’ll usually receive a letter in October or November telling you how much you’ll get, with payment made in November or December. If this is the first year you qualify or your circumstances have changed, you may need to claim.
To check if you’re eligible and apply, visit the GOV.UK Winter Fuel Payment page.
Northern Ireland
If you live in Northern Ireland, you may be eligible for an equivalent payment from the Northern Ireland Executive. Eligibility rules will be the same as for England and Wales.
nidirect explains Winter Fuel Payment eligibility and how it works.
Scotland
Winter Fuel Payments aren’t available in Scotland but you may be eligible for a Winter Heating Payment. We’ve covered these later in this tab.
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Cold Weather Payments are for people who receive these benefits:
- Pension credit
- Income support
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Universal Credit
- Support for mortgage interest
They’re paid automatically in English, Welsh and Northern Irish postcodes where the temperature is (or is predicted to be) zero degrees centigrade. This payment is £25 per week of temperature below the threshold and runs from November to March.
Find out more on the GOV.UK Cold Weather Payment page
What other help is available in Scotland?
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You could get an annual payment to help with your heating costs if you live in Scotland and get certain benefits. The payment is made once each winter and doesn’t depend on how cold it gets.
Most people who are eligible will get the payment automatically between December and the end of February. You’ll receive a letter or email to tell you it’s coming.
If you think you should have received a payment but didn’t, you can contact Social Security Scotland to ask for it to be checked.
To check if you’re eligible and what to do if you didn’t get paid, visit the mygov.scot Winter Heating Payment page.
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This payment helps people of State Pension age in Scotland with their heating costs during the winter. It replaced the Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland and is paid once a year by Social Security Scotland.
Most people who are eligible will be paid automatically. You’ll usually get a letter in November to confirm your payment, which is then paid during the winter.
Some people may need to apply, depending on their circumstances.
To check if you’re eligible and whether you need to apply, visit the mygov.scot Pension Age Winter Heating Payment page.
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The Home Heating Support Fund helps people in Scotland who are struggling to pay for their home energy.
You can be referred by one of the fund’s referral partners, but you can also apply yourself. It’s open to people facing serious financial hardship and covers different fuel types and ways of getting fuel. It can also help if you’re in fuel debt.
To find out more, including how to apply, visit the Home Heating Support Fund website.
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Home Energy Scotland is a body dedicated to improving fuel efficiency in Scottish homes. While it doesn’t offer money to directly pay for fuel, it can provide financial help to make your home more fuel efficient.
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This programme is run by the Scottish Government and Warmworks and provides support and financial assistance to those experiencing fuel hardship or struggling to pay energy bills.
In the first instance, you should contact Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 to find out whether you qualify. If you do, you’ll be referred to Warmworks.
You can find out more about eligibility criteria on the Warmer Homes Scotland website.
What other help is available in Wales and Northern Ireland?
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This fund offers short term help if you live in Wales and you’re struggling to cover essential costs.
Support’s available in urgent situations, like help with food, energy or travel, or to help someone live independently at home.
The support comes as a grant, so you don’t need to pay it back. What you get depends on your situation when you apply.
To check if you’re eligible and how to apply, visit the GOV.WALES Discretionary Assistance Fund page.
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- Advice NI offers support with money worries and benefits
- The Consumer Council for Northern Ireland can help with issues relating to energy and other services
What else can I do if I’m struggling to pay my energy bills?
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If you’re finding it hard to keep up with your gas or electricity bills, contact your supplier as soon as you can.
If you owe your energy supplier money, they have to help you arrange a way to pay with you that works for you both.
Many providers offer grants to help you pay your energy bills. Eligibility for grants and discounts will vary by provider and depend on your circumstance.
If you’re at risk of losing your energy supply (eg, if you’re on a prepaid meter and running out), they can offer you emergency support but you may need to repay the cost incurred over time.
You can ask about:
- A payment plan based on what you can afford
- More time to pay
- Help if you’re already behind on bills
The sooner you speak to them, the more options you’re likely to have.
You may be able to pay off some of your debt from your benefits using the Fuel Direct Scheme.
Energy supplier support
- British Gas Energy Trust
- Scottish Power Hardship Fund
- Ovo Energy Fund
- E.ON Energy Fund
- E.ON Energy Support
- EDF Energy Customer Support Fund
- Octopus Octo Assist Fund
What if I can’t agree a plan with my supplier?
If you can’t come to an agreement with your supplier or you’re having trouble understanding the available options, check the energy guidance from Citizens Advice or contact Citizens Advice in your part of the UK for free support.
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You may be able to request fuel vouchers from your local council or a food bank. It’s worth getting in touch with them to find out.
Benefits, payments and grants
This section explains how to check what financial help you might be entitled to, including benefits and charitable grants.
What money help might I be entitled to?
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Many people miss out on benefits they’re entitled to.
This could include support for housing, children, disability or low income.
Turn2us has a free online tool that helps you check what benefits you might be able to claim, based on your circumstances.
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Some charities offer grants to help people in financial difficulty. Grants do not need to be paid back and can sometimes help with:
- Household bills
- Essential items
- Unexpected costs
Turn2us has a grants search tool that helps you find support you may be eligible for.
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GOV.UK keeps an up to date overview of current cost of living support, including help with energy bills, benefits and household costs.
Debt and urgent money worries
If you’re worried about debt or feel under pressure to pay bills you can’t afford, this section explains what to do and where to get help.
What can I do right now if I’m worried about debt?
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Taking a few simple steps can help you feel more in control:
- Work out how much money you have coming in each month
- List your essential spending first, such as rent or mortgage, council tax and energy bills
- Write down who you owe money to and how much you owe
This gives you a clear picture of your situation.
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Some debts are more urgent than others.
Many creditors are willing to help if you tell them you’re struggling. They may be able to:
- Reduce your payments
- Pause payments for a short time
Set up a repayment plan that fits your budget
Where can I get help with money worries?
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You don’t have to deal with debt on your own.
Free, confidential debt advice is available from:
They can help you:
- Understand your options
- Prioritise your debts
- Decide what to do next
In Scotland
Money Advice Scotland offers free debt advice and financial support, including help with budgeting and dealing with creditors.
In Northern Ireland
Advice NI provides support with debt, benefits and money worries, with services tailored to Northern Ireland.
You’ll find details of how to contact these organisations later on this page.
Check later on this page for a full list of organisations who may be able to help.
Budgeting and day to day money
This section focuses on practical ways to manage your money and stay on top of everyday spending.
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A budget helps you see where your money goes and where you might be able to make changes.
It can help you:
- Plan for bills
- Prioritise essentials like rent, mortgage and energy
- Avoid overspending
- Spot problems early and avoid falling behind
If your income changes or money feels unpredictable, that’s still okay. A simple budget gives you a starting point.
Citizens Advice explains how to build a simple budget step by step, even if your income changes.
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If you’re not sure where your money is going, tracking your spending can help.
Try one of these:
- Write down everything you spend for a few weeks
- Use a free spending tracker app on your phone
Once you can see your patterns, it’s easier to set a budget that works for you and spot small changes that add up over time.
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Some people find using cash helps them manage day to day spending.
It can help you:
- Know what you have left
- Avoid dipping into money set aside for bills
At Post Office, customers of most UK banks can:
- Withdraw cash over the counter
- Pay cash back into their bank account
This can be useful if you want to keep bill money and spending money separate.
Find out more about our everyday banking services and access to cash.
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If you’re starting to struggle, taking action early can help stop things getting worse.
You could:
- Review your budget and put essentials first
- Contact organisations or creditors early, even if you’re not behind yet
- Check if you’re entitled to benefits or grants that could boost your income
- Check if you have insurance that covers illness or redundancy
If you miss payments, they don’t go away. Charges can build up and your credit rating could be affected, making things harder later on.
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Saving money looks different for everyone. The key is finding changes that fit your life.
You might try:
- Cancelling memberships you don’t use
- Choosing own‑brand products
- Using loyalty cards
- Making small changes to travel or lunch habits
MoneyHelper has more ideas and tools to help you find savings that work for you.
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If you often run out of money before payday, planning ahead can help.
Some simple steps include:
- Using direct debits or standing orders for bills
- Setting a realistic budget and sticking to it
- Saving a little for unexpected costs in a rainy day fund or emergency fund
- Using separate accounts or savings pots for different expenses
You don’t have to get everything right at once. Even small changes can make everyday money feel more manageable.
