HARD-UP households can still get up to £1,500 in energy bill help through their supplier and the government.

Despite bills dropping for the average household this month, millions are still struggling due to rising costs across the board.

Several major firms have grants for households that are struggling with energy costs.

You'll need to contact your supplier directly to see what they offer, what the eligibility requirements are, and how much you can get.

If you don't know who your supplier is, you can find out using the Ofgem supplier search tool on its website or by checking your bill.

Other help is also available from the government, as well as special discounts too.

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Below we explain what you can get and how to apply.

Energy grants

British Gas – up to £1,500

The British Gas Energy Trust has recently reopened applications for its Individuals and Family Fund.

You do not need to be a British Gas customer to apply for this fund – you can be a British Gas customer or a customer from another supplier.

You could get a grant worth as much as £1,500 but the amount will depend on your circumstances and needs.

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To be considered for a grant you must meet all the following criteria:

• You live in England, Scotland or Wales
• You have not received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust within the last two years
• 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 by a member of that household. The energy account must relate to your main residence
• You have electric and/or gas debt
• You do not have savings above £1,000
• You have received help from a money advice agency

To support your application you'll need to provide evidence that you've received money advice in the last three months. You'll also need proof of your current household income.

British Gas customers will also need a recent meter reading – unless they're on a smart meter.

You can apply for the fund on the British Gas Energy Trust website.

EDF

The EDF customer support fund can help customers who are in debt or facing financial difficulties.

It can also provide help in buying energy-efficient white goods to help customers reduce their bills long term.

To get a cash grant from EDF, you'll need to be a customer and sign up to the priority services register.

Once you've done this and the firm has assessed your circumstances you'll be able to apply for an energy grant.

You'll need to have your EDF account number and current energy debt balances ready, along with details of your household finances and vulnerability.

The fund is open for customers to apply and there is currently no end date for applications.

The amount you can get will depend on your circumstances.

Scottish Power – up to £750

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

If you think you're eligible for the cash grant you can apply online on the supplier's website and you should get a response within five working days.

Once your application has been submitted it can take up to five working days to be reviewed by the team.

You will then be contacted to confirm whether your application has been approved and advise next steps.

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

The amount you can get will again depend on your situation and needs.

Octopus – £100s

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

It could also include 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.

What you can get depends on your circumstances and needs.

Customers of Affect Energy, Co-operative Energy, Ebico Living, London Power and M&S Energy are also entitled to apply for help through the Octo Assist Fund.

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

Direct bill support could include vouchers up to £500 or a payment holiday.

You can contact Octopus via its website.

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

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.

The fund does not have a closing date.

E.ON has urged any customers yet to apply for the fund to see what help is available.

Discount scheme

British Gas recently launched its Summer Sundays scheme, offering customers discounted energy until the end of September.

Households will get 50% off all electricity used each Sunday between 11am and 4pm from June 25 to September 24.

Roughly 150,000 households are already set to take part – but you can still sign up if you haven't already.

It comes as part of the energy provider's PeakSave scheme, which launched in December last year.

British Gas said it expects customers involved in the scheme to save £5million in total by the end of September.

It's worth noting, you'll need a smart meter installed if you haven't already signed up and want to take part.

You can register your interest on the British Gas website, providing your full name, email address, and customer reference number, and the firm will get in touch if you've been selected.

Households that successfully sign up won't have to re-register for every Sunday session – once is enough.

Once you've been accepted onto the scheme, you'll be able to use as much electricity as you want over the five-hour window.

At the end of every Sunday, British Gas will credit half of what you spent back to your account.

The payment will show up as "PeakSave Credit" on your bill or online statement.

For more information on exactly what you can save see our story.

Household Support Fund

Those on a low income or certain benefits could get free financial help from their local council.

The help comes via the Household Support Fund, which is worth £842million.

The money is provided by the Government which has distributed it among councils in England.

They then decide how to share their portion of the fund.

That means what you can get depends on where you live, but in most cases, help is offered to those on a low income or benefits.

The type of support on offer varies as well – some local authorities are offering out food or sending out cash – but some issue energy bill vouchers or payments.

For example, if you live within the borough of Windsor and Maidenhead could get £145 free cash to go towards food and energy costs.

Eligible households in Wokingham can get £100 in cash vouchers to go towards food, energy, fuel and other essential costs.

The best thing to do is contact your local council to see what help is on offer and if you have to take any action.

You can do this by using the Government's locator tool found on its website.

What other help is there?

Extra help includes a £900 payment for millions on certain benefits including Universal Credit and a £150-£300 top-up for millions of pensioners.

The £900 has been split into three instalments of £301, £300 and £299.

Over eight million people are eligible for the help in total and should have received the first instalment last month.

The second and third instalments are due to be paid this autumn and in spring 2024.

You qualify for the payments if you receive the following benefits:

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit

Meanwhile, a £150 payment and between £150-£300 payment will be made to millions with disabilities and pensioners.

You may be entitled to the £150 disability cost of living payment if you receive any of the following benefits:

• Attendance Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance for adults
• Disability Living Allowance for children
• Personal Independence Payment
• Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
• Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• War Pension Mobility Supplement

All payments are expected to be made by tomorrow (July 5).

Plus, millions of pensioners from November will get between £150 to £300.

You will receive the payment if you qualify for this year's Winter Fuel Payment, which you will get if you were born before September 25, 1957.

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The money is essentially a top-up to the Winter Fuel Payment which is designed to cover the costs of heating over the colder months.

You will be sent a letter from the Government in October or November if you are eligible for the top-up.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

You can also join our new Sun Money Facebook group to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group members.

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