Grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills

You might be able to get help if you’re struggling to afford your energy bills or top up your prepayment meter. The help you get depends on:

• how you pay for your energy

• the type of energy you use

• if you claim benefits

Check if something is an energy scam

Some scammers are pretending to be from energy companies to get your personal information.

If you think something might be a scam: 

• don’t give out any personal information or bank details

• don’t use any contact details from the possible scam

You can check if something is a scam.

Check if you can get a fuel voucher

If you can't afford to top up your prepayment meter, you might be able to get a fuel voucher.

You'll get the voucher as a code in a letter, text message or email.

You can use it to add credit to your gas card or electricity key. If you don't have one of these, contact your supplier to get one.

Your local council might be able to help you get a fuel voucher - find your local council on mygov.scot. If you’re still not sure if you can get a voucher, get help from an adviser.

You can use a fuel voucher at:

• a shop signed up to PayPoint - find a shop near you on the PayPoint website

• a Post Office or shop signed up to Payzone - find a Post Office or shop near you on the Payzone website

To use your voucher you’ll need to take:

• the code and instructions

• some form of ID - for example, your passport or a bill with your name and address

If you have a smart prepayment meter you can also add the fuel voucher credit to your account online. To do this, follow the instructions on your voucher.

Check your fuel voucher to see when it expires. You might have to use it within 15 days.

If you have problems using your voucher, contact the organisation that gave it to you - you should be able to find their contact information on the instructions.

Check if you can get a Warm Home Discount

If you get benefits, you might be able to get £150 off your electricity bill or £150 added to your prepayment meter. You'll get the payment by 31 March 2025.

You can only get the Warm Home Discount if your supplier is in the scheme. You can find out if your energy supplier is part of the scheme on GOV.UK. 

You might need to apply to your energy supplier for the discount. It depends on what benefits you get.  

If you get Pension Credit 

You should get the Warm Home Discount if you or your partner got the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit on 11 August 2024. This is known as the ‘core group’. You don’t need to apply – payments are automatic. You should get a letter from your supplier between October 2024 and early January 2025 confirming the payment.  

You are not part of the core group if you only get the Savings Credit element of Pension Credit. You should check if you can apply for the Warm Home Discount if you get other benefits.  

If you get other benefits 

If you get certain benefits, you might be eligible to apply for the Warm Home Discount. This is known as the ‘broader group’.  

If you are in the broader group, you won’t get the payment automatically. You have to apply to your energy supplier.  You might be in the broader group if you get one of the following benefits:   

• Universal Credit  

• Child Tax Credit 

• Housing Benefit  

• Income Support  

• income-based Jobseekers Allowance  

• income-related Employment and Support Allowance. 

Each supplier’s eligibility criteria is different. You should check with your supplier.  

You should apply as soon as possible. Some suppliers have already opened applications. Check with your supplier.  

Find out more about the Warm Home Discount Scheme on GOV.UK. 

If you switch supplier  

If you applied for the discount, you’ll usually need to stay with your supplier until the discount is paid.

If you want to switch supplier, check if your old supplier will still give you the discount if you leave. If they won't, check if the new supplier is part of the scheme and if you can still make an application. They might have different deadlines or eligibility.

If you don’t use gas or electricity to heat your home

If you can’t afford to buy fuel, you might be able to get financial help. You might be eligible if you:

• rely on oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), coal or wood as your main source of heating

• aren’t on the gas grid

You’ll need to show that you can't heat your home because you can't afford to buy fuel - or you might not be able to afford it soon.

Your local Citizens Advice will need to apply for extra financial help for you.

If you think you're eligible for help, talk to an adviser.

Check what other help you can get if you use alternative fuels.

Check if you can sign up to the Priority Services Register

You can get extra help from your gas and electricity supplier by signing up to the Priority Services Register. For example, if you're on the Register your energy supplier might:

• make your call a priority when you contact them

• give their engineers a password if they visit or contact you - so you know they’re genuine

• move your prepayment meter if you struggle to get to it

You can sign up if you're either:

• of State Pension age

• disabled or have a long-term health condition

• considered ‘vulnerable’ by your energy network

You could be classed as vulnerable if you're disabled or have a long-term health condition. Your energy network might also consider you vulnerable if you:

• don't speak or read English well

• have children under 5 years old or are pregnant

• have no sense of smell or would struggle to smell gas

Check how to sign up to the Priority Services Register.

Grants to help pay off energy debt

If you’re behind with your energy bills, you might be able to get a grant to help you pay off your debt. This might be from your energy company or a charitable trust.

Check what grants and other help you can get if you're behind with your energy bills.

Help to make your home more energy efficient

You might be able to make your home more energy efficient to help reduce your fuel costs. Find out more about funding for energy efficiency in homes.

Local energy grants

You might be able to find grants or schemes run by your local council. You can try searching on your local council’s website for energy grants. Find your local council's website on GOV.UK.

Winter Heating Payment

Winter Heating Payment has replaced the Cold Weather Payment in Scotland. It's paid once a year to help with energy bills in winter.

In winter 2024-2025, the payment is £58.75. In winter 2023-2024, the payment was £55.05.

If you're eligible, Social Security Scotland will send you a letter before you get the payment.

You might get a Winter Heating Payment if you get:

• Pension Credit

• Income Support

• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

• income-related Employment and Support Allowance

• Universal Credit

• Support for Mortgage Interest.

You won't need to apply for Winter Heating Payment. You'll get it automatically if you're eligible.

Find out more about Winter Heating Payment on mygov.scot.

Child Winter Heating Payment

Child Winter Heating Payment is a payment of £251.50. It's paid once a year.

In winter 2023-2024, the payment was £235.70.

It's paid once a year to parents and carers to help with household costs for disabled children and young people under 19.

You'll get Child Winter Heating Payment if you have a child or young person in the household who gets 1 of the following benefits in the qualifying week:

• the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance for children

• the highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment

• the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment

• the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment.

The qualifying week is the third week in September.

The payment does not have to be used to pay heating costs.

Read more about Child Winter Heating Payment.

Pension Age Winter Heating Payment

Pension Age Winter Heating Payment is a payment of £200 or £300 in winter 2024-2025. 

It’s paid once a year to older people that have reached State Pension age and get certain benefits to help you pay for heating during the winter.  You’ll get the payment if you or your partner gets one of these benefits:  

• Pension Credit  

• Universal Credit  

• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)  

• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)  

• Income Support  

• Child Tax Credit  

• Working Tax Credit.  

You’ll get £200 if you’re under 80 years old or £300 if you’re 80 years or over.  

You won’t need to apply for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. You’ll get it automatically if you’re eligible.

Read more about Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.

If you use an oxygen concentrator

If you use an oxygen concentrator for a disability or health condition, you can get money back for the electricity it uses. This is called a ‘rebate’.

To apply for the rebate, ask the person who installs your concentrator or contact the company that supplies it.

You should get the rebate every 3 months. If you need it more often, ask the company that supplies your concentrator if they can help.

If your rebate hasn't been set up, you can contact Dolby Vivisol Home Respiratory Care on their website.

If you’re struggling with living costs

If you’re struggling with money, there are things you can do to save on your regular living costs. Check what to do if you need help with living costs.

If you’re finding it hard to pay your bills, you can get help. Find out more about getting help with your bills.

You can also get help with debts.

If you're struggling to pay for food, find out how to get help from a food bank.

If you need a warm, welcoming space

‘Warm welcome’ spaces are public places that anyone can use - for example a community space like a library. They’re free, warm, welcoming and safe.

You can ask your local council about warm welcome spaces near you. You can find your local council on mygov.scot.

Some spaces are only open in winter and some are open all year. Each space is different, but they might offer things like:

• hot food and drink

• activities and the chance to learn new things

• a place to meet people in your community

• access to the internet and help to use a computer

If you’re finding things difficult

Your mental health is as important as your physical health. You should talk to your GP if your money problems are affecting your mental health.

You can also get help on the Breathing Space website.

Samaritans

If you need to speak to someone right now, you can call the Samaritans for free.

Helpline: 116 123 (Monday to Sunday at any time)

Welsh Language Line: 0808 164 0123 (Monday to Sunday 7pm to 11pm)

Shout

You can also text 'SHOUT' to 85258 to start a conversation with a trained Shout 85258 volunteer. Texts are free, anonymous and confidential from anywhere in the UK.

If you think it's an emergency

If you think your life or someone else’s is at risk, you should call 999 or go to A&E if you can.

If you need support, you can call NHS 24 on 111. The Mental Health Hub is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Further help

If you're deaf or hard of hearing, you can get help with energy issues from Deaf Action's Bright Deal service. It can give you advice in BSL, either online, on a video call or by arranging a home visit. Find out more on Deaf Action's website.

Contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau if you need more help. A trained adviser can give you advice over the phone or by email.