Energy giant is giving out £2,000 grants to customers to clear bill debt from TODAY

A MAJOR energy supplier has today reopened a grant scheme which gives cash-strapped families up to £2,000 in free cash.

The British Gas Energy Support Fund is now open for applications.

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The scheme provides grants to customers who are finding it difficult to pay their bills.

Any British Gas or Scottish Gas customer who is struggling to pay their energy bill and has previously sought energy advice is eligible to apply for the aid.

Successful applicants could get grants of up to £2,000 to clear energy debt - this is £500 more than what was offered by the firm last year.

You must meet the following criteria to qualify for the Energy Support Fund:

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• Live in England, Scotland, or Wales
• Have energy debt between £50 - £2,000 on a pre-payment meter or £250 - £2,000 on a credit account
• Be experiencing or at risk of fuel poverty
• Have received assistance from a money advice agency in the last six months
• Have not received a grant from British Gas in the past 12 months

Customers must also be in or facing fuel poverty and have received help from a money advice or guidance agency within the last six months.

This could include support from charities like Citizens Advice or StepChange.

To apply, you'll need to visit britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/grants-available.

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The scheme that opens today is strictly for British Gas customers.

What other help is available?

British Gas runs a separate scheme for customers not with the supplier which can also help struggling families.

The British Gas Energy Trust's Individual and Families Fund has been accepting applications from those struggling with energy debt since September.

The Individual and Families Fund was first set up in 2021 to help households struggling with energy debt.

However, unlike other energy supplier grants, this scheme's support is available to British Gas and non-British Gas customers.

Energy customers could previously get up to £1,500 in help from the fund, but it has increased to £1,700 this winter to help an increasing number of households in debt.

To qualify you must meet the following criteria:

•  Pre-payment meter customers must have between £50 and £1,700 of energy debt
• Credit customers must have between £250 and £1,700 of energy debt
• Live in England, Scotland, or Wales
• Have not received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust within the last 2 years
• You must be seeking a grant to clear an outstanding debt on a current or open gas, electricity or dual fuel energy account.
• The account must be in your name and relate to your main residence

It is recommended that customers from the following companies first seek assistance through their own hardship schemes:

• Ovo Energy
• E.ON Next
• EDF Energy
• Scottish Power
• Octopus Energy
• Utilita

If you are rejected by your own energy company's hardship fund, apply to the British Gas Energy Trust's Individual and Families Fund by visiting www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/grants-available.

What do other suppliers offer?

Many other energy suppliers offer support for their customers so it is always worth getting in contact if you are struggling.

Grants vary by supplier and, of course, the exact amount you'll get will depend on your own financial circumstances.

Here's a full list of other energy suppliers offering grants.

Octopus Energy

Octopus Energy offers a range of support, including cash from its Octopus Energy Assist Fund.

It could also include loaning a thermal imagery camera to find heat leaks in your home, which you can fix to reduce energy usage and your bill.

It also conducts home energy visits to discuss how households can reduce their usage and 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 customers have no deadline for applying.

Find out more by visiting www.octopus.energy/blog/octo-assist.

ScottishPower

ScottishPower has handed out more than £60m in support to customers experiencing difficulties in paying their energy bills, through its Hardship Fund.

You could qualify for help from the fund if you receive support from the following benefits:

• Income-related employment and support allowance
• Income-based Jobseeker's allowance
• Income support
• Housing benefit
• Universal Credit
• Tax credits
• Pension credit savings credit

Help could also be available if you have a low household income or if special circumstances, such as illness, have impacted your earnings.

To apply you'll first need to sought advice from debt charity Step Change by calling 0800 138 1111.

You'll then need to apply for funding through Scottish Power's scheme by visiting www.support.sigmaconnected.com/scottish-power-hardship-fund

If your application is successful, the fund can wipe all or part of your energy debt.

Utilita

Utilita Giving is Utilita's charity partner and offers grants to vulnerable customers to help clear energy debt.

The fund provides grants to wipe or reduce energy debts.

However, it's only available to customers on legacy credit meter.

To find out more and how to apply, visit www.utilitagiving.org/helping-hand-fund.

Utility Warehouse

Utility Warehouse offers financial assistance to customers struggling with their bills. 

Citizens Advice Plymouth operates the scheme, which also provides Utility Warehouse customers with budgeting advice and benefits assessments.

EDF Energy

EDF's Consumer Support Fund provides grants to support vulnerable customers struggling with energy debt.

Grants are given to help clear debt and to help fund the provision of essential white goods, such as fridges or cookers.

You can apply to the scheme at EDF's Let's Talk website by visiting www.forms.lets-talk.online/Login

But before you can apply for funding, you will need to have sought independent debt advice.

You will also need to provide your EDF account number, current debt balance and details of your household finances and vulnerability.

E.ON Next

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

E.ON doesn't have 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. 

You must know your energy account number and provide a recent meter reading to complete your application.

As part of your application, you'll also be asked to provide evidence of your circumstances, such as proof of household income or DWP benefit payments.

Find out more, including how to apply, by visiting www.eonnextenergyfund.com.

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You should also be aware of the government's £150 Warm Home Discount and Household Support Fund.

The Sun previously rounded up all the energy bill help worth £5,710 that you could be eligible to claim, which you can read here.