Help with energy bills after redundancy: what you can claim

Energy suppliers in Great Britain have a regulatory duty to help customers in financial difficulty. Phone your supplier — not just email — and ask specifically about their hardship fund. Most have grants worth several hundred pounds for customers behind on bills or facing income shocks.

• British Gas Energy Trust — grants up to £1,500 for customers of any supplier
• Octopus Energy Assist Fund — for Octopus customers in difficulty
• EDF Energy Customer Support Fund — clearing arrears for low-income customers
• OVO Energy Fund — for OVO customers facing hardship
• Scottish Power Hardship Fund — for Scottish Power customers

Warm Home Discount is a £150 rebate applied to your electricity bill between October and March. Most eligible households get it automatically if they receive certain benefits and live in a property with a high energy cost score. If you're on Universal Credit with no work allowance reduction, you're likely to qualify.

If you receive certain benefits — including UC in some circumstances — you may get £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between November and March. It's automatic, paid into the account where you get your benefits. In Scotland, the Winter Heating Payment is paid annually instead.

The Household Support Fund is delivered through local councils. It can pay for energy top-ups, vouchers for utility bills, or direct credits. Each council sets its own eligibility and application route — search 'Household Support Fund' plus your council name.

• If you're on a prepayment meter: ask your supplier for emergency credit and check whether you qualify for fuel vouchers via Citizens Advice.
• If you're behind on bills: ask your supplier for a Fuel Direct arrangement — DWP can pay arrears straight from UC.
• If you have a medical condition needing power: ask to be added to the Priority Services Register — it's free.
• If you have children under 5 or someone disabled at home: most councils prioritise you for Household Support Fund grants.
• If your bill estimate looks wrong: submit an up-to-date meter reading immediately — many shocks come from estimates, not actual use.
• If you're switching homes after redundancy: tell the supplier the day you move so you're not billed for someone else's use.

• Don't ignore letters — disconnection notices are the last step of a long process you can stop earlier.
• Don't use buy-now-pay-later or high-cost credit for energy.
• Don't agree to a payment plan you can't keep — a small affordable amount is better than a missed large one.
• Don't self-disconnect (running out of credit on a prepayment meter) without asking for help first.

• Phone your supplier this week and ask about their hardship fund.
• Apply for the Household Support Fund through your council.
• Check whether you'll receive Warm Home Discount automatically by signing into your supplier account.
• Use the checker to confirm what benefit-linked support you may qualify for.