Government launches portal for 900,000 additional households to apply for £400 payments towards energy bills

Alternative funding route

900,000 more households across England, Scotland and Wales will benefit from the government's £400 help with energy bills, as an online application portal opens today.

Households without a direct relationship to an electricity supplier, such as those living in park homes and care homes, can now apply via a secure online portal to receive the support as a one-off, non-repayable lump sum under the ‘alternative funding' route of the government's Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS AF). For those without online access, a dedicated customer helpline is available to assist eligible customers.

To ensure people feel the benefit of this support as quickly as possible, the payment will be provided directly into people's bank accounts. Over £7.2 billion has been provided so far to 97% of households across England, Scotland and Wales through monthly instalments, which most households receive automatically in the same way they pay these bills.

The alternative funding route is designed to make sure the same level of support reaches those without a direct relationship to an electricity supplier. It's also available for households who get their energy through a commercial contract or who are off-grid.

Ministers are today urging all eligible households to apply as soon as possible for their support, whilst also warning households to stay alert to potential scams and report them to relevant authorities where they are suspected.

The government will never provide any links to the application portal, or directly ask individuals to apply for the £400 support. Those that require additional help when applying for support may wish to seek assistance from a family member or trusted friend.

Minister at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Amanda Solloway, said:

"We understand the pressure households are under which is why we've already stepped in to pay around half of people's energy bills this winter, and from today, thousands more will be able to apply securely for their £400."

"Today I'm urging everyone who couldn't get their EBSS discounts in the regular way to apply via our secure channels. If you don't have a direct contract with an electricity supplier, it's essential you submit your application as soon as possible. The sooner you do, the sooner help can get to you."

This will help people who use alternative energy sources such as heating oil, biomass and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to heat their homes, but who were unable to receive the government's £200 Alternative Fuel Payment automatically via their electricity supplier. Of nearly two million people who use these sources as the main means to heat their homes, around 15% will need to apply through a similar GOV.UK portal which will shortly open to applications.

Next steps

• To check eligibility and apply for the £400 of support, people need to search for “Apply for energy bill support if you do not get it automatically” in the search bar on GOV.UK or in an internet search engine.

• For those without online access, the contact centre helpline can be reached on 0808 175 3287 for applicants in Great Britain, or 0808 175 3894 for applicants in Northern Ireland, where a representative will guide them through the application process. The helpline is open 8.00am to 6.00pm on Monday to Friday.

• Applicants who are unable to submit a form via the online portal or contact centre, for example due to a medical condition, can have a trusted family member, friend, or carer, apply online on their behalf, as long as the applicant's details and proof of their consent are provided.

More information:

Visit the Energy Bills Support Scheme