Grants are available from energy suppliers to help you pay your bills | Tenant news

If you’re struggling to pay your energy bills, you can apply for a hardship grant from your energy providers, right now.

A hardship grant is a partial payment towards your energy bill that can be applied by your energy supplier as a credit to your account. This credit can go towards your bill or it can help you clear any arrears.

Suppliers offering grants

The MoneySavingExpert team’s research shows that these suppliers provide hardship grants:

• British Gas has a grant open to all (even if you’re not their customer)
• Utility Warehouse (open to customers only through Citizens Advice)
• EDF (open to their customers only
• E-ON Next (open to customers only)
• Octopus Energy (open to customers only)
• OVO Energy (open to customers only)
• Scottish Power (open to customers only)
• Shell Energy (open to customers only).

If you don’t want to apply for a hardship grant, you can also ask them for:

• More time to pay
• An affordable payment plan
• A payment break.

Priority Services Register

If you’re worried about how you would manage if your electricity is cut off – during a power cut, for instance - check if you can join the Priority Services Register.

Electricity and water companies offer a free support service for vulnerable people on the register, providing:

• Text and voice message alerts to let you know when there are large power cuts in your area or if severe weather is expected
• Tailored support such as home visits, hot meals, advice and keeping your friends and relatives updated, if needed
• A free hotel overnight and transport to the hotel (in certain scenarios)
• On-site help from a community welfare support team, including hot drinks, hot meals, a Wi-Fi connection and charge points.

You can sign up to the Priority Services Register if you or someone in your household is:

• living with a chronic illness
• living with dementia
• registered disabled
• of state pension age
• recovering from an injury
• a parent with children under five
• living with a hearing or sight impairment
• having mental health difficulties
• on medication that has to be refrigerated
• reliant on medical equipment.

If you receive benefits, but can’t get a hardship grant or get on the Priority Services Register, and you are struggling to pay your rent, please don’t hesitate - call our Rent Assist team straight away for advice on 0300 365 3100.