Energy Bills Support Scheme – alternative funding

The Energy Bills Support Scheme alternative funding (EBSS AF) is providing support of £400 for energy bills for households in England, Scotland, and Wales without a direct relationship to a domestic electricity supplier. This support is provided by His Majesty’s Government and is delivered by local authorities.

Eligibility for Energy Bills Support Scheme alternative funding

Subject to applications meeting the eligibility criteria, people who will be able to receive support under EBSS AF include:

  • care home residents and others in care facilities/sheltered accommodation (wholly or partly self-funded)
  • park home residents, houseboats and caravans that can provide proof of address
  • social and private tenants who pay for energy through a landlord on a commercial supply
  • homes on a heat network/private wire
  • off-grid homes
  • farmhouses used for wholly domestic purposes

How to apply for the Energy Bills Support Scheme alternative funding

If you are eligible for EBSS AF, you will need to fill out the energy bill support form on GOV.UK.

Applications are made directly to His Majesty’s Government, not to or via local authorities.

If you do not have online access, you can apply via a contact centre on 0808 175 3287 where a representative will guide you through the application process.

Once you have applied, your application will be processed and verified. After this if your application is successful, your details will be shared with local authorities, who will deliver the one-off, non-repayable support. The payment will be made directly into your bank account in a single instalment.

Further information can be found on the GOV.UK energy bill support page.

Applications will close on 31 May 2023.

How your data will be used for the Energy Bills Support Scheme alternative funding

HM Government and Cheltenham Borough Council will need to share data about your application. This is to ensure that we make accurate payments and to allow HM Government to monitor the EBSS Alternative Funding.  If you would like more information about how your data will be shared and used as part of your application, you will find this in the privacy notice which covers the scheme.

Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) - alternative funding

The government launched the Alternative Fuel Payment – alternative funding scheme on 6 March 2023.

Under the Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP), households that use alternative fuels to the gas grid as their main source of heating, can receive a one of payment of £200. This includes households that use tank or bottled gas, liquid petroleum gas (LPG), heating oil, wood or other solid fuel.

The money is intended to ensure that households using alternative fuels are not left with a higher percentage increase to their heating costs compared to those using mains gas who are supported by the energy price guarantee.

Most households on alternative fuels will have already received this payment through their electricity supplier in February. There are a small number of households that don’t have a direct contract with an electricity supplier as so they will need to make a claim under the AFP alternative funding which has been launched by government.

Eligibility

The government has advised that provided they can provide sufficient proof of address, receipt of fuel costs, and are not otherwise ineligible, households eligible for AFP Alternative Fund may include:

  • park home residents.
  • housing association, social and private tenants, and leaseholders, supplied via a landlord with a commercial meter.
  • households in house boats on residential moorings
  • households on a private electricity network, for example those supplied by a heat network.
  • off-grid households.
  • traveller households on authorised sites.
  • households in temporary/supported accommodation

Can I qualify for this and the Energy Bills Support Scheme?

Yes, although if you aren’t receiving the money for the schemes automatically, then you will need to submit separate claims.

How to apply

If you are eligible for AFP, you will need to fill out a the energy bill support form on GOV.UK. Applications are made directly to His Majesty’s Government, not to or via local authorities.

If you do not have online access, you can apply via a contact centre on 0808 175 3287 where a representative will guide you through the application process.

Once you have applied, your application will be processed and verified. After this if your application is successful, your details will be shared with local authorities, who will deliver the one-off, non-repayable support. The payment will be made directly into your bank account in a single instalment.

Further information can be found on the GOV.UK energy bill support page.

Applications will close on 31 May 2023.

How your data will be used for the Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) - alternative funding

HM Government and Cheltenham Borough Council will need to share data about your application. This is to ensure that we make accurate payments and to allow HM Government to monitor the Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP). If you would like more information about how your data will be shared and used as part of your application, you will find this in the privacy notice which covers the scheme.