Extra Support

As well as the Warm Feeling Fund grant, there is plenty of help out there to make your home more energy efficient and reduce your bills.

If rising energy bills are making it hard to heat your home, there is support available, including grants, debt advice and guides on how to reduce the amount of energy you use.

As the cost of energy continues to rise dramatically, many people are worrying about how they will pay their bills. Help is available though – from the government, various charities and Trusts, as well as the energy companies themselves. We’ve put together a list of some of the most relevant, with links and contact details so you can get in touch directly.

  • The British Gas Energy Trust offers support which includes help with paying overdue energy bills and giving advice on funding and debt.

    Some Scottish Power customers may be eligible for its Hardship Fund. This offers grants to reduce or even clear arrears to households with debts or overdue energy bills.

    E.ON is offering customers financial assistance in several different areas, including bill arrears and replacing household items such as white goods and gas boilers.

    OVO has a range of ways to support customers who are struggling to pay their bills.

    Anglian Water offers extra support for vulnerable customers with a priority service register. They also can help with payment plans, assistance schemes and discounted tariffs.

    High energy bills affect all areas of life. If you are looking to save money on your telecoms, Ofcom will compare tariffs for broadband and phone deals.

    Every large energy supplier is required to deliver energy efficiency measures to households. These include measures such as discounted insulation and a discounted boiler replacement scheme. Eligibility varies, but usually requires someone who lives in the home to receive benefits and own or privately rent the property. Visit the Simple Energy Advice website to find out more.

  • The Winter Fuel Payment is there for anyone who was born before 27th September 1955 and receives social security benefits (for example a state pension). It’s worth between £100 and £300 to help with energy bills over the winter months.

    If you claim the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or are on a low income, then you could be eligible for £140 in the winter to go towards energy payments. Learn more here about the Warm Home Discount.

    Also for the winter time is the Cold Weather Payment – £25 to go towards your heating bill. It triggers every time the average temperature in your local area is freezing or below for seven days or more. Find out if you’re eligible.

    Are you unsure which benefits you’re entitled to? This online calculator will let you see what you can claim.

  • Suffolk County Council has its own webpage of resources which is updated regularly, you can find it here.

    Infolink Suffolk has a comprehensive webpage of links for cost of living support.

    Charis is an organisation which administers many essential funds and grants on behalf of major companies, authorities and charities.

    The Trussell Trust website has a list of foodbanks in your area.

    Older people on low incomes may be able to get a small grant (usually up to £400) from Friends of the Elderly.

    Joining an oil-buying club is a great way to save money if you still use oil for heating. By working together, people benefit from bulk-buying rates. Check your local parish council website to see if there’s one near you.

    Installing renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic panels will lower what you need to pay to the energy companies. Plus, the Smart Export Guarantee means you will get paid for excess electricity that you feed back into the grid.

    If you’re looking to replace a boiler then the Government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme is worth looking at as it offers thousands off the cost of low-carbon heating technologies, such as air source heat pumps and biomass boilers.

    Perhaps the simplest way to cut your bills is by reducing the amount of energy you use. Visit the Energy Saving Trust website for plenty of useful tips to help you do this.

All details are correct at the time of publication, but may change without notice. Please refer to the relevant website for the most up-to-date information.