Thousands of struggling households have just HOURS left to get up to £2,000 energy debts WIPED through ‘lifeline’ scheme

THOUSANDS of struggling households have just hours left to get help wiping energy debts.

Grants worth up to £2,000 are being dished out to those who’ve fallen behind with gas and electric bills.

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The British Gas Individual and Families Fund has previously been hailed as a “lifeline” for people struggling with energy debt.

The fund was set up in 2021 and made available to both British Gas and non British Gas customers with debt on a credit energy account or a pre-payment meter.

However, it will close to those who are billed for energy use at 4pm today.

Those who ‘pay as you go’ for energy via a prepayment meter will continue to get the help after this date.

Those who have already applied but have been asked to provide further information will need to so this by today’s deadline too.

Failure to do so by 4pm today means that your application will be declined.

Mum of three, Farzana Ali got over £1,000 of help from the British Gas fund when she fell into deby during the pandemic.

She said the support came as “such a relief” and described her “shock” when British Gas paid her outstanding debt off.

Farzana was signed off work with depression due to financial stress for two months and got behind on her bills.

British Gas put Farzana in touch with the British Gas Energy Trust who advised her to apply to the scheme.

But you can apply for the Individuals and Families Fund whichever supplier you are with.

British Gas Energy Trust is the charity arm of British Gas, which is the biggest energy supplier in the UK.

After today’s deadline, British Gas customers will continue to be able to apply to the fund.

For those who miss the deadline, there are other schemes to get help, and if you’re struggling with debts contact your supplier directly to see what’s on offer.

Here we explain how to apply to the fund before it closes, and other support for energy debts,

Am I eligible and how do I apply?

There are certain criteria that you need to meet to be considered for the fund, and we have listed them here.

• Have energy debt up to £2,000 and have a credit energy account, or use a pre-payment meter in your main residence
• The energy account must be in the name of the applicant
• You must live in England, Scotland or Wales.
• Have not received a grant from British Gas Energy Trust within the last two years.
• You must be seeking a grant to clear outstanding debt
• Have electric and or gas debt
• Be facing fuel poverty
• Have received help from a money advice agency in the last three months
• Have a household income of less than £18,723, or someone in the household is registered disabled and receives a disability benefit, or receives Carers Allowance, or has 3 or more children

You’ll also need to provide certain information like proof of your household income and that you’ve has money guidance, along with a meter reading.

You can apply at britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/grants-available/.

If your application is successful your energy account will be credited with the grant.

It is important to note that it is not a cash payment and that the money will be credited to your energy account.

The amount you get will depend on your circumstances.

You can find out if you are eligible on the British Gas website.

If you are a British Gas customer there is additional help available to you by way of the Energy Support Fund.

Help via the Energy Support Fund is available regardless of whether customers have a credit account or pre-payment meter.

What is the Energy Support Fund?

The fund is available only if you are a British Gas customer, and it offers between £250 and £2,000 to households with electric or gas debt.

To be considered for a grant from the British Gas Energy Support Fund you will need to meet the following criteria:

• Live in England, Scotland or Wales
• Have not received a grant from British Gas Energy Trust in the last 12 months
• Have electric and/or gas debt between £250 – £2,000
• You must be in or facing Fuel Poverty  
• You must be seeking a grant to clear an outstanding debt on a current or open gas, electricity or dual fuel energy account in your name or be a member of that household, the energy account must relate to your main residence 

When you apply proof of your income will be required and this will be taken into consideration along with household outgoings to determine if you are at risk of fuel poverty.

You can apply at britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/grants-available/.

What other suppliers offer help?

Most energy suppliers have some kind of help available for vulnerable customers.

The amount you get will depend on your circumstances and every supplier will offer a different level of support.

Here is a full list of support that is available from suppliers including EDF, Scottish Power and Octopus Energy.

Octopus Energy

There is a range of support available from Octopus Energy including cash from its Octopus Energy Assist Fund.

It also offers the loan of a thermal imagery camera to find heat leaks at home that you can fix to reduce energy usage and your bill.

It also does home energy visits to help discuss how households can reduce their usage. Plus it gives out free electric blankets.

Octopus is encouraging all customers to get in contact if they’re struggling with their bills.

Octo Assist fund is still open for applications and there is no deadline for customers to apply.

Scottish Power

Customers of Scottish Power could get up to £750 in grants from its hardship fund to help with their energy bills.

You could qualify for help if you’re receiving one of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Job Seekers Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Employment and Support Allowance

You can make an application online and should get a response within five working days.

If your application is successful you will be contacted and advised of the next steps.

Scottish Power offers the fund all year round, so hard-up customers can apply now.

E.ON

Customers of both E.ON and E.ON Next can apply for cash grants to help with their energy costs.

E.ON doesn’t have an established eligibility criteria but the fund aims to help as many people as possible and applications from individuals with the greatest needs will be prioritised. 

In order to complete your application, you will need to know your energy account number and provide a recent meter reading.

You can apply online via the Eon website.

You’ll be asked to provide evidence of your circumstances, for example, proof of household income or DWP benefit payments.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk