Energy Bills Support Scheme – Alternative Funding

The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) is providing support of £400 for energy bills for households in England, Scotland and Wales who do not have a direct relationship to a domestic electricity supplier. This support is provided by His Majesty’s Government and is delivered by local authorities. The scheme is now open to all eligible households across Great Britain until 31 May 2023.

People who will be able to receive support under EBSS AF, subject to applications meeting the eligibility criteria, include:

• care home residents and others in care facilities/sheltered accommodation (wholly or partly self-funded)
• park home residents, houseboats and caravans that can provide proof of address
• social and private tenants who pay for energy through a landlord on a commercial supply
• homes on a heat network/private wire
• off-grid homes
• farmhouses used for wholly domestic purposes

How to apply

If you are eligible for EBSS AF, you will need to fill out a short online form on the Gov.UK website. If you do not have online access, you can apply via a contact centre on 08081 753287 where a representative will guide you through the application process. Please note that applications are made directly to His Majesty’s Government and not to or via local authorities.

Once you have applied, your application will be processed and verified. If your application is successful, your details will then be shared with local authorities who will deliver the one-off, non-repayable support. The payment will be made directly into your bank account in a single instalment. 

Alternative Fuel Payment, Alternative Fund

The Alternative Fuel Payment Alternative Fund (AFP AF) is providing support of £200 for energy bills for residents that use alternative fuels for most of their heating, but who do not have a direct relationship to a domestic electricity supplier. This support is provided by His Majesty’s Government and is delivered by local authorities. The scheme is now open to all eligible households across Great Britain until 31 May 2023.

If you use alternative fuels for heating

You may be eligible for a £200 Alternative Fuels Payment (AFP) if both of the following are true:

• your household is not connected to the mains gas grid; and
• you use alternative fuels as your main form of heating

This is on top of the £400 from your electricity supplier. You’re eligible for this payment if the main way you heat your home uses:

• tank or bottled gas
• liquid petroleum gas (LPG)
• oil
• wood
• solid fuel

Most homes that are eligible for this payment will get it automatically as a credit on their electricity bills from February 2023. If you think you should have got a payment but have not, contact your electricity supplier.

You may not get the payment automatically if your home is either:

• in an area which is mainly connected to the gas grid; or
• not connected to either the gas or the electricity grid

If you do not get this payment automatically

You may have to apply for this payment through the AFP Alternative Fund if you do not get it automatically - for example, because you do not have a contract with an electricity supplier.

Apply for a payment to help pay for alternative fuels if you’ve not already had one.