Fuel poverty is a serious issue affecting millions of UK households. If you are struggling to heat your home or pay energy bills, you are not alone — and a range of statutory and voluntary support exists. This guide brings together all the help available, from government grants to supplier obligations and emergency assistance.
For specific grants and efficiency schemes, see the Energy Hub.
Emergency and immediate support
If you are in immediate difficulty — your supply has been cut off or you cannot afford to top up a prepayment meter — these are your first calls:
Your energy supplier
All energy suppliers must, by Ofgem licence conditions:
- Offer you a repayment plan for any debt that you can afford
- Provide emergency credit on prepayment meters
- Not disconnect supply during winter months (1 October–31 March) for vulnerable customers
- Refer you to support schemes (Warm Home Discount, hardship fund) if you are struggling
Call your supplier’s billing or hardship team (the number is on your bill). Explain your situation. Ask for:
- A repayment plan based on your actual income and expenses
- Access to their hardship fund
- Information about the Warm Home Discount
Emergency Assistance from your local council
Many local councils have emergency hardship funds for immediate energy assistance — including cash payments, energy top-up vouchers, and referrals to food banks. Search “[your council] emergency support” or contact your council’s social care team.
Grants and ongoing support
Warm Home Discount (£150/year)
An annual one-off £150 rebate on your electricity bill, paid October to March.
Who qualifies:
- Core Group 1: Pension Credit Guarantee recipients — automatic (no application needed)
- Core Group 2: Other qualifying means-tested benefit recipients — automatic if your supplier is enrolled and DWP matches your data
- Broader Group: Low income, high energy costs — apply directly to your supplier (limited places, first-come-first-served)
Check gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme and your supplier’s website for Broader Group application windows (usually open August–October each year).
Cold Weather Payments (£25/trigger event)
A payment of £25 is triggered for each period of 7 consecutive days of temperatures at or below 0°C at a linked weather station. Automatic if you receive:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-related ESA or income-based JSA
- Universal Credit (with a health condition or child under 5)
- Support for Mortgage Interest
ECO4 and Great British Insulation Scheme
Fully funded insulation and heating improvements for low-income households. If your home is cold because of poor insulation or an old heating system, these schemes can address the root cause:
- ECO4: Funded by energy suppliers; for homes rated EPC D–G; benefit recipients have priority
- GBIS: Loft and cavity wall insulation; broader eligibility than ECO4
- Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2): For off-gas-grid homes (not connected to the gas network)
These are the most impactful long-term solutions — they reduce bills permanently rather than providing one-off payments.
Household Support Fund
Local councils receive Household Support Fund allocations from the government to help households struggling with energy, food, and essential living costs. There is no national application form — each council manages its own scheme.
Contact your local council directly and ask about Household Support Fund assistance. Many councils have online forms; some require referral from a social worker, GP, or other professional.
Longer-term support
Benefits check
Many households in fuel poverty are not claiming all the benefits they are entitled to. A benefits check can uncover entitlements to:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit (for over-66s — worth ~£3,900/year on average, plus passported benefits worth thousands more)
- Disability benefits (PIP, DLA, AA — not means-tested)
- Housing Benefit or help with rent through Universal Credit
- Council Tax Reduction
Free benefits checks are available at Citizens Advice, Turn2Us (turn2us.org.uk), and Entitledto (entitledto.co.uk).
Priority Services Register
Register with your energy supplier for the Priority Services Register (PSR) if you are vulnerable. This provides:
- Advance notice of planned outages
- Priority restoration after faults
- Safe engineer visits (password scheme)
- Bills in large print, braille, or audio
- Free meter readings if you cannot access your meter
- Being flagged as vulnerable during debt collection processes
Register with both your electricity and gas supplier, and with your network distributor (a different company from your supplier).
Debt advice
If you have accumulated energy debt that feels unmanageable:
| Organisation | Phone | What they do |
|---|---|---|
| StepChange | 0800 138 1111 | Free debt management plans, IVA referrals |
| National Debtline | 0808 808 4000 | Free debt advice and self-help tools |
| Citizens Advice | 0800 144 8848 | Comprehensive benefits and debt advice |
| Breathing Space | Via debt adviser | 60-day moratorium on debt collection |
Energy debt is an unsecured, non-priority debt for debt management purposes — but disconnection for debt is a serious risk, so it should be treated as priority in your repayment plan.