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Grants to Pay Your Gas and Electricity Bills

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Are you in trouble with your energy bills?

If you are on a low income and are struggling to pay your fuel bills you may qualify for a free grant to clear or reduce your arrears. There are a number of trusts making awards to people experiencing fuel poverty. It is high recommended that you seek assistance from a money advisor or welfare rights worker to apply for these grants, particularly if you have other debts outstanding. This will not only increase your chances of making a successful application but it will ensure that you receive a full benefit check to ensure you are receiving your full entitlement.

The trusts below are only a fraction of the grant making bodies out there and have been highlighted here simply because they are the only one's I have assisted people to apply to. You will also find useful links below to help you find any further or alternative sources of help that are available to you.

Family Action General Welfare Grants

Family Action offer grants for clothing, fuel bills and general household needs such as beds and cookers but can also help with needs such as communication aids and medical adaptations. Grants are normally made for between £100-£300. Welfare Grant applicants must fall into one or more of the following priority areas to be eligible for funding:

* Mental Health Adults (over the age of 18) with a clinical diagnosis of a mental health problem.

*Parents and expectant parents (over the age of 18) with a drug or alcohol problem.

* Domestic Abuse- grants to families or individuals in the first 6 months of fleeing the family home and/or the first 6 months after moving into a new home, or the first 6 months after the perpetrator has left the family home

* Older People- support to promote independence, improve the quality of life and reduce isolation for those aged 60 and over

* Young People (18-25) - grants to support young people living alone (i.e. not living with friends, family, others, including children). *

*Sickness/Disability Grants to pay for treatment or disability aids.

Funds are not available for:

* council tax arrears

* debts (except utility bills)

* fines

* rent deposits

* funeral expenses (including associated expenses, such as headstones)

* gifts (such as toys for birthdays, Christmas or other festivals)

* items already covered by statutory funding

* rent arrears

* rent payments

* repayment of Social Fund or other loans

* bankruptcy

* items already purchased

British Gas Energy Trust

To apply to the Trust, you must be a current domestic account holder (person/persons named on bill) of British Gas or Scottish Gas.

Grants can be awarded for

* Arrears of domestic gas / electricity charges owed to British Gas or Scottish Gas.

* Other priority debts and essential household items ('white goods' only).

Grants cannot be awarded for

* Any household item that is not a 'white good'

* Fines for criminal offences

* Overpayments of benefits

* Educational or training needs

* Business debts

* Debts to central government departments e.g. tax and national insurance

* Catalogues, credit cards, personal loans and other forms of non-secured lending

* Medical equipment, aids and adaptations

* Deposits to secure accommodation

* Holidays.

* Items already purchased

* Bills that have already been paid.

The EDF Energy Trust

To apply for a grant from the Trust to clear an energy debt owed to EDF Energy, you must be a domestic customer of EDF Energy (the account holder). If you live in a home which is supplied by EDF Energy but you are not the account holder e.g. a lodger who pays gas or electricity as part of their rent, you can still apply to the Trust for help with other essential household debts or costs. Evidence will be required that the household receives its electricity or gas from EDF Energy. Requests for help to clear energy debt owed to alternative suppliers to EDF Energy would be considered as Further Assistance Payments.

The Trust will not help will any of the following:

* Fines for criminal offences

* Overpayments of benefits

* Educational or training needs

* Debts to central or local government departments, e.g. tax and national insurance

* Catalogues, credits cards, personal loans and other forms of non-secured lending

* Holidays

* Medical equipment, aids and adaptations

* Deposits to secure accommodation

Turn2us

Turn2us aims to help people access the money available to them - through benefits, grants and other financial help. The website has search facilities covering grants for various purposes, including both education and general welfare from hundreds of charitable organisations.

Apply for a Grant

EDF Energy Trust: Grants for customers of EDF facing financial hardship
British Gas Energy Trust: Grants for customers of British/Scottish Gas facing financial hardship
Family Action: Welfare grants from Family Action
Turn2us: Search for grants and other help
Charis Grants: Charis Grants exists to facilitate charitable and corporate giving by designing, developing and managing a range of services in support of vulnerable members of society. We offer a complete grants management servi

Social Tariffs by Energy Supplier

Many fuel suppliers offer special tariffs for people on low incomes, each supplier has it's own criteria to qualify. If you are struggling with your bills you should call your supplier and ask them if you qualify for a special tariff. Savings can be as high as 20% so it is worth contacting your supplier for further advice.

Scottish and Southern - Energyplus Care Tel: 0800 622 838

Scottish Power -Fresh Start Tel: 0845-2700-700

British/Scottish Gas - Essentials Combined Tel: 0800 072 5230

EDF- Energy Assist - Tel: 0800 269 450

e-on - Warm Assist - Tel: 01733-421-060

npower - Spreading Warmth and First Steps Tel: 0808-172-6999