Government Energy Bills Support Alternative Funding

Warwick District Council is urging households and individuals who didn’t qualify for the Government’s £400 energy rebate in autumn 2022, to see if they can apply for funding under a new ‘alternative’ scheme.

The Government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) is providing £400 in energy bills support for households in England, Scotland, and Wales without a direct relationship to a domestic electricity supplier. This funding is provided by His Majesty’s Government and will be distributed through your local authority. The scheme is now open to all eligible households across Great Britain with a closing date of 31 May 2023.

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, and those living in houseboats and caravans who can provide proof of address
• Social housing 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 with their own energy supply used for wholly domestic purposes

Those who are eligible for EBSS AF, will need to fill out a short online form via the GOV.UK website. This form can be found by searching “Apply for energy bill support if you do not get it automatically” into the search bar on GOV.UK or an internet search engine. Applications are made directly to His Majesty’s Government, not to or via your local authority (Warwick District Council). 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 your local authority, who will deliver the one-off, nonrepayable support. The payment will be made directly into your bank account in a single instalment.

Warwick District Council’s Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Resources commented:

“With spiralling energy bills, we know that many in our district are struggling, we therefore strongly recommend that households and individuals who missed out on receiving the previous payment and think that they qualify for the rebate to visit the GOV.UK or call the helpline number at the earliest opportunity.”

Further information can be found on by visiting the GOV.UK website.