If you cannot afford to pay your energy bills or you’ve built up energy debt, your energy supplier may be able to help through a hardship fund — and in some cases you can access funds even if you’re not their customer.
What Are Energy Company Hardship Funds?
Energy company hardship funds are separate pots of money that suppliers maintain to help customers (and in some cases non-customers) in genuine financial difficulty. These are grants, not loans — money awarded does not need to be repaid. Awards are typically used to:
- Clear or reduce outstanding energy debt
- Prevent disconnection (though domestic disconnection is now rare)
- Fund emergency heating repairs
- Provide white goods that reduce energy costs
Hardship funds are funded by the energy companies themselves and managed either internally or through independent charitable trusts. They are separate from government-funded schemes like the Warm Home Discount.
Major Hardship Funds in 2026
British Gas Energy Trust
The British Gas Energy Trust (BGET) is the UK’s largest energy hardship fund and — importantly — is open to all households, not just British Gas customers.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | Any UK household, any energy supplier |
| Typical award | £100–£2,000 depending on need |
| What it covers | Energy debt, fuel vouchers, white goods in some cases |
| Assessment by | Independent trust panel |
| Apply via | britishgasenergytrust.org.uk |
BGET requires applicants to have received money advice from a recognised agency (Citizens Advice, StepChange, or similar) within the last 12 months. If you haven’t received advice, contact Citizens Advice first.
E.ON Next Energy Fund
E.ON operates the E.ON Next Energy Fund for its customers experiencing financial hardship.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | E.ON Next customers only |
| What it covers | Energy debt, heating system repair/replacement |
| Additional support | Benefit entitlement checks |
| Apply via | Contact E.ON Next customer services |
EDF Energy Customer Support Fund
EDF offers grants to customers in fuel poverty or financial hardship, typically to clear energy debt.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | EDF customers |
| What it covers | Outstanding energy debt |
| Apply via | EDF customer services or energy advisers |
Octopus Octo Assist Fund
Octopus Energy’s hardship fund is available to customers facing financial difficulties.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | Octopus customers |
| What it covers | Bill relief, payment plan support |
| Apply via | In-app support or customer services |
Other Suppliers
Most major suppliers operate some form of hardship support. Contact your supplier’s customer services and ask specifically about their hardship fund or customer support fund. Ofgem’s supply licence conditions require suppliers to offer appropriate support to customers in payment difficulty.
How to Apply
Applying for a hardship fund is straightforward but requires preparation:
- Gather evidence — recent payslips, benefit award letters, bank statements, and a breakdown of income and outgoings
- Get money advice first — most funds require or strongly recommend that you’ve spoken to a free debt or money adviser. Contact Citizens Advice (0800 144 8848) or StepChange (0800 138 1111)
- Contact the fund — apply directly via the fund’s website or through your energy supplier
- Complete the application — provide evidence of hardship and explain your circumstances
- Await assessment — most funds take 2–6 weeks to make a decision
What If You’re Refused?
If a hardship fund refuses your application or cannot award enough to clear your debt:
- Ask your supplier for a payment plan — suppliers must offer affordable repayment terms for energy debt under Ofgem licence conditions
- Apply to the British Gas Energy Trust — even if you’re with a different supplier
- Contact your local council — the Household Support Fund (HSF) is available through local authorities and can fund energy costs
- Request a Fuel Direct arrangement — energy debt can be deducted from Universal Credit or Pension Credit before it reaches you, making debt repayment automatic and affordable
- Contact StepChange — if energy debt is part of wider financial difficulty, a debt management plan may help
Supplier Payment Obligations
Under Ofgem licence conditions, energy suppliers have obligations to customers in debt:
- They cannot disconnect domestic customers for non-payment during winter months (October–March) if you are of pensionable age, disabled, or chronically sick
- They must offer a prepayment meter as an alternative to disconnection (though courts must now authorise forced prepayment meter installation)
- They must provide affordable repayment terms based on your ability to pay
- They must refer you to the Priority Services Register if you’re vulnerable
The Priority Services Register
If you are disabled, have a chronic illness, rely on medical equipment, or are of pensionable age, register with your energy supplier for the Priority Services Register (PSR). PSR status doesn’t guarantee a hardship grant, but it does mean:
- Your supplier must not disconnect you during winter
- You get priority in power outages
- You can nominate a carer or trusted person to deal with your account
- You receive extra support in emergencies
The British Gas Energy Trust — Open to All Suppliers
The British Gas Energy Trust is the largest independent energy hardship fund in the UK and is open to all domestic energy customers — not just British Gas customers. This is widely unknown and means that even if your supplier has no hardship fund or has exhausted its allocation, you can apply here.
The Trust offers:
- Debt relief grants — lump sums to clear energy debt
- Advice services — through partner money advice organisations
Applications require evidence of financial hardship and typically a referral from Citizens Advice, StepChange, or another approved debt adviser. The Trust’s grants are discretionary and competition is high — apply as early as possible and ensure your application is complete.
Apply at: britishgasenergytrust.org.uk
What Happens to Energy Debt After a Hardship Grant
If a hardship fund clears your energy debt:
- The debt is written off — you do not owe it back; it is not a loan
- Your credit file — energy debt is not typically recorded on your Experian/Equifax/TransUnion credit file (unlike credit cards or loans), but county court judgments for energy debt can affect your credit score
- Ongoing payments — you are responsible for ongoing energy costs from the date of clearance; a direct debit or prepayment arrangement should be set up immediately to prevent new debt accumulating
- Reporting — the hardship fund provider may report the award to DWP (if you receive benefits) but this does not affect your benefit entitlement
Related Guides
- Energy Financial Support hub — Winter Fuel Payment, Warm Home Discount, and Cold Weather Payments
- Energy Grants and Schemes hub — physical improvement grants
- What Happens If You Can’t Pay Your Energy Bill — full guide to energy debt rights