Do this now
If you're behind on energy or you can't afford to top up, the order below is the fastest route to breathing room. None of it costs anything.
Do this now — 4 steps
- Call your supplier and ask for an affordable payment plan. Under Ofgem rules they must work with you to agree payments you can genuinely afford — based on what you can pay, not what they'd like. Don't self-disconnect; tell them you're struggling.
- Join the Priority Services Register (free) if anyone in your home is disabled, elderly, ill, relies on electric medical equipment, has young children or extra communication needs — see below.
- Apply for a hardship grant. The British Gas Energy Trust helps clear energy arrears and is open to customers of any supplier. Most grants need you to have taken free money advice first.
- Get free debt advice. Energy is a priority debt. Ring StepChange 0800 138 1111, National Debtline 0808 808 4000 or Citizens Advice 0800 144 8848 — they'll negotiate with your supplier for you, for free.
You will not be cut off for getting in touch — contacting your supplier early gives you the most protection.
First, the schemes that have ended
A lot of energy support was set up during the 2022–23 crisis and has since stopped. Don't waste time chasing these — they no longer exist:
Don't chase these — they've ended
The £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme ended on 31 March 2023. The Energy Price Guarantee ended on 31 March 2024. Neither is coming back, and anyone telling you you're "owed" the £400 is likely a scam.
What does still exist is Ofgem's energy price cap, reviewed every three months, which limits the rate suppliers can charge most households on a standard variable tariff. It's a cap on unit rates and standing charges, not a cap on your total bill — you still pay for what you use, so the actual amount changes through the year.
Every real way to get help in 2026
Here's what's genuinely available right now, who it's for, and where to go:
| Help | Who it's for | What it does |
|---|
| Affordable payment plan | Anyone behind on bills | Your supplier must agree payments you can afford (Ofgem rules) |
| Supplier hardship grant | Households with energy arrears | Grant to clear debt — e.g. British Gas Energy Trust (any supplier), EDF, Octopus, E.ON, Scottish Power funds |
| Priority Services Register | Disabled, elderly, ill, young children, extra needs | Free extra support — power-cut alerts, priority help, password scheme, accessible bills |
| Fuel Direct | On certain benefits with arrears | Pay energy debt straight from benefits to avoid disconnection |
| ECO4 insulation grant | Lower-income / vulnerable, EPC D–G homes | Free or part-funded insulation & heating (runs to end of 2026) |
| Warm Home Discount | Low income / certain benefits | £150 off your electricity bill over winter |
| Cold Weather Payment | Certain means-tested benefits | £25 per 7-day cold spell, 1 Nov–31 Mar (seasonal) |
| Winter Fuel Payment | Older people (rules apply) | Annual help with winter heating costs |
Supplier hardship grants
Several energy suppliers run charitable trusts or hardship funds that give grants you don't pay back to help clear energy arrears:
- British Gas Energy Trust — the big one, and crucially open to customers of any supplier (not just British Gas). It gives grants of up to around £2,000 to clear energy debt. You typically need to live in England, Scotland or Wales, owe energy debt within the fund's limits, and have taken free money advice (or used a benefits calculator) in the last 6 months.
- EDF, Octopus, E.ON / E.ON Next, Scottish Power and Ovo — most large suppliers run their own hardship or trust funds for their own customers. Search "[your supplier] energy fund / hardship grant" or ask your supplier directly.
Get free advice first — it's usually required
Most energy grant funds ask you to have had free money advice (from Citizens Advice, StepChange or a similar agency) before they'll consider your application. So step one is the same as step one for debt: get free debt help.
If you're a Warm Home Discount customer or on certain benefits, mention it when you apply — it can strengthen your case.
The free Priority Services Register
The Priority Services Register (PSR) is a free service designed by Ofgem and run by your energy supplier and your local network operator (the company that owns the wires and pipes). It gives extra support to people in vulnerable circumstances.
You can join if you (or someone in your home):
- Are of pensionable age, disabled or have a long-term health condition;
- Rely on electricity for medical equipment (e.g. a stairlift, oxygen, dialysis);
- Have young children or are pregnant;
- Have extra communication needs (sight, hearing or memory issues), or need support after a hospital stay or bereavement.
What you get: advance notice of planned power cuts, priority help in an emergency, a password scheme so you know callers are genuine, help with meter access and readings, a nominee to receive bills on your behalf, and bills in large print or braille. To sign up, just tell your supplier and your network operator your circumstances — it costs nothing.
Your rights if you can't pay
Ofgem rules protect you when you fall behind. Two of the most important:
You can't be disconnected if you're vulnerable
A supplier should never knowingly disconnect a household where there are:
- Children under 6 — at any time of year;
- Children under 16 — during winter (1 October to 31 March);
- Anyone who can't safeguard their welfare because of age, health, disability or severe financial hardship.
Disconnection for debt is a genuine last resort. If you're on a prepayment meter and can't top up, your supplier must offer emergency credit, and additional support credit if you're in a vulnerable situation — to give you breathing space while you sort things out.
The right to an affordable payment plan
Your supplier must try to agree a repayment plan based on what you can genuinely afford, taking your income and outgoings into account. If they push for more than you can pay, say so, give them your figures, and ask them to look again. Free debt advisers can build a budget and negotiate this for you.
Pay arrears from benefits: Fuel Direct
If you get certain benefits and you're behind on energy, the Fuel Direct scheme (also called third party deductions) lets the DWP pay a fixed amount straight from your benefit to your energy supplier each payment — covering arrears and, in some cases, ongoing usage.
It can stop disconnection because the supplier knows they're being paid steadily. On Universal Credit, the deduction for an energy debt is usually a small percentage of your standard allowance, and the DWP can manage up to three debts at once. It's normally arranged when other options have been tried. Ask your supplier or mention it in your Universal Credit journal, or get a free debt adviser to set it up.
Check the deductions are affordable
Fuel Direct is helpful, but the deductions still come out of money you live on. A free adviser can check the amount is right and that priority debts are balanced against your other costs.
Cut bills for good: insulation grants
The cheapest energy is the energy you don't use. A warmer, better-insulated home costs less to heat — and there are grants to help:
- ECO4 — the Energy Company Obligation scheme runs to the end of 2026. It can fund insulation and heating upgrades for lower-income or vulnerable households whose home has an EPC rating of D to G. It's delivered through energy suppliers and approved installers. Qualifying benefits include Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Housing Benefit and others.
- Warm Homes: Local Grant — many councils run insulation and heating grants for lower-income households. Check your local council's website.
The Great British Insulation Scheme has closed
The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) closed in 2026 and is no longer taking applications — don't apply for it. Use ECO4 or your council's scheme instead, and always check what's open via GOV.UK, your supplier or your council before paying for any work.
Winter top-ups you may be owed
If you're on certain benefits, extra winter help can land in your account automatically — but it's worth knowing it exists:
- Warm Home Discount — £150 off your electricity bill over winter for those on a low income or certain benefits. In England & Wales most qualifying households are identified automatically.
- Cold Weather Payment — £25 for each 7-day spell of very cold weather (0°C or below) between 1 November and 31 March, for people on qualifying means-tested benefits. Paid automatically — you don't claim. It's seasonal and only triggers in genuinely cold weather.
- Winter Fuel Payment — help with winter heating costs for older people (eligibility rules apply).
Not sure what your household qualifies for? Check my benefits runs a quick scan, and What am I missing? looks for money you may be owed across the board.