Energy schemes - Extra help for 2022/23

There are a few cost of living schemes that are aimed at different groups:

Everyone

Pensioners

Ill and disabled people

People on low incomes

People in Northern Ireland

People who use alternative fuels

People in park homes and care homes

Everyone

Anyone in England, Scotland or Wales paying an electricity bill was able to get £400 taken off their energy account in winter 2022/23. It wasn't paid in cash – it was applied as a discount on your bill. You don't have to repay it.

This replaced the previous scheme where there would be a £200 payment applied to accounts that would then have to be repaid over 5 years.

People who have prepayment meters are supposed to receive vouchers. If you're not receiving monthly vouchers, contact your energy supplier.

Pensioners

Anyone who was pension age on or before 25 September 2022 (born on or before 25 September 1956) was able to get an extra £300 in addition to the £200-300 Winter Fuel Payment.

This was paid by direct debit in November or December 2022. If you didn't receive a payment before 13 Jan 2023, contact the winter fuel payment helpline.

Ill and Disabled people

There was an extra £150 payment to people who get disability benefits.

To be entitled to this payment, you have to have been getting one of these benefits on 25 May 2022:

• Disability Living allowance; or
• Personal Independence Payment; or
• Scottish Adult Disability Payment; or
• Scottish Child Disability Payment; or
• Attendance Allowance; or
• Armed Forces Independence Payment; or
• Constant Attendance Allowance; or
• War Pension Mobility Supplement.

This payment went out in September.

It was paid in the same way as your disability benefit. For most people, this was by a transfer into their bank account. 

If you get a benefit decision after September 2022 which is backdated to before 25 May 2022, you can still get a Cost of Living payment. You can report the missing payment online.

Low income households

£650 has been paid in two instalments to households getting one of the following benefits:

• Universal Credit; or
• Pension Credit; or
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA); or
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA); or
• Income Support; or
• Working Tax Credit; or
• Child Tax Credit.

It was paid automatically by the same mechanism you usually get your benefits, for example, direct transfer into your bank account. 

The first instalment went out from July for people who were getting a qualifying benefit between 26 April and 25 May 2022.

The second payment went out from November for people who were getting a qualifying benefit between 26 August 2022 and 25 September 2022.

If you did not get a payment and think you should have been entitled to one, you can report the missing payment online.

Extra help

Councils have been given extra money to run discretionary funding schemes. This means councils have a lot of flexibility about how they decide to use the money.

If you’re struggling, you should ask your council for help.

People in Northern Ireland

All households in Northern Ireland received a lump sum of £600. 

Payments was made made automatically through your energy supplier between 16 January and 28 February 2023. 

You will get vouchers if you do not pay your bills by direct debit. 

Similar support was available for households such as park home residents and tenants whose landlord pay their energy via a commercial contract. Applications are closed now. You can call Northern Ireland customer support team on 0808 175 3894 to get help with an existing application. 

People who use alternative fuels

The government provided extra help to people in England, Scotland and Wales who heat their homes with fuels other than gas or electricity.  

People who heat their homes with heating oil, liquified petroleum gas (LPG) or biomass was able get an extra payment of £200 to help with the high cost of these fuels. 

For most people, it was paid through their energy supplier from February 2023 and they didn't need to apply for help.

People who don't have an electricity supplier needed to apply for help. Applications are closed now. You can call the customer support team on 0808 175 3943 to get help with an existing application. 

People in park homes and care homes

People in England, Scotland and Wales who live in park homes and care homes, as well as people who pay their home energy bills to a commercial supplier, was able to get £400 help. 

Payments were made through local authorities.

You needed to apply for the help. Applications are closed now. You can contact the customer support team on 0808 175 3287 to get help with an existing application. If you've been appointed to act on behalf of someone else, you can still apply by calling the same customer support helpline by 16 June 2023. 

FAQs

How do these schemes work together?

Most of these schemes are cumulative, so a pensioner couple with disabilities might get:

• £400 off their energy bill, and
• £300 extra as well as their Winter Fuel Payment of £200- £300, and
• £150 payment alongside their Attendance Allowance, and
• £650 payment along with their Pension Credit.

The Northern Ireland scheme is separate from the England, Wales and Scotland schemes for help with energy bills and alternative fuel payments.

Are these payments taxable?

No, they are not taxable.

Will these payments affect my other benefits?

No, getting these payments won’t affect your other benefits.

Do I need to apply for these schemes?

Most of these schemes are designed to pay people automatically so you won’t need to apply.
If you’re struggling at any point, you can ask your council if they have a scheme that can help you. Different councils have set up different schemes, but councils have been provided with money to help people who are struggling.

 I have a prepayment meter – will I still get help?

Yes, you will still get help even if you’re on a prepayment meter. Depending on your energy company, you might get a £400 credit applied to your meter during the winter, or you might be sent vouchers for £400 of energy.

People in Northern Ireland with prepayment meters will get £600 as vouchers.

What about the £150 council tax rebate - do I still get that?

People living in properties banded A-D had a £150 council tax rebate announced in the chancellor’s Spring Statement in March. 

Most people who pay their council tax by direct debit have already had their £150 council tax rebate.  

My rent includes bills  - will I get the £400 payment?

The £400 payment will be applied as a discount to energy bills. You might need to talk to your landlord about how this will affect how much you pay to your landlord for rent and bills.

If I claim benefits now, can I get the extra help?

You are too late now to get the help for for 2022-23. However, the government has announced new support for 2023-24 which you may be in time to get.

If I pay my energy direct each month / quarter, will I still get the £400 payment?

Yes, it will be applied as a discount to your energy account during the winter, so you will have less to pay.

Updated: June 2023