Energy hardship grants most households never apply for
If your energy bill has got properly out of hand, there’s a pot of money most people don’t know exists. Energy hardship grants are run by supplier charitable trusts, not the government, and several will hand out cash even if you’re not their customer.
They’re not a loan. You don’t pay them back. And the amounts involved, often a few hundred pounds and sometimes into four figures, are usually enough to actually clear an overdue balance rather than just take the edge off it.
Energy hardship grants have been around for years, but awareness of them stays stubbornly low. Suppliers don’t always advertise their own trust prominently, and people who’ve fallen behind on a bill are often more focused on avoiding a prepayment meter or a debt collector than searching for a charitable fund they’ve never heard of.
Which suppliers actually run one?
Most of the big names do, through an arm’s length charitable trust rather than the supplier itself. British Gas runs the British Gas Energy Trust, EDF has its Customer Support Fund, E.ON Next has the Energy Fund, Octopus runs Octo Assist, OVO has a Customer Support Package, and Scottish Power runs its own Hardship Fund.
The detail changes supplier to supplier, but the shape is usually similar: money towards energy debt, sometimes help with essential appliances like a broken fridge or boiler, assessed case by case rather than as a fixed handout. If you’re not sure which trust covers your supplier, a quick search for “[your supplier] energy hardship fund” usually turns up the right page within the first result or two.
Energy hardship grants at a glance
- Run by supplier trusts, funded separately from your bill.
- Grants are typically a few hundred pounds, occasionally more, and are not repaid.
- Several, including the British Gas Energy Trust, accept applications from non customers too.
- Usually needs some evidence of financial hardship, like benefits or a low income.
Do I have to be that supplier’s customer to apply?
Not always, and this is the part most people miss. The British Gas Energy Trust in particular is open to anyone struggling with energy debt, whoever they’re actually with. Other trusts lean more towards their own customers, so it’s worth checking each one rather than assuming you’re excluded.
Roo’s take: it’s a bit like a firm that lets anyone use the staff canteen, not just their own employees. Worth wandering in and asking, because most people never do.
What can you actually use a grant for?
Clearing arrears on your energy account is the main one, but several trusts stretch further than that. Some cover a portion of a replacement boiler, cooker or fridge freezer if the old one has broken and you can’t afford a new one. A few also fund debt advice sessions alongside the grant itself.
Amounts vary a lot by trust and by your circumstances, so treat any figure you see quoted online as a rough guide rather than a promise. What energy hardship grants actually pay out depends on the assessment, not a fixed table.
How is this different from the Warm Home Discount?
Easy to muddle the two, so worth being clear. The Warm Home Discount is a fixed £150 knocked off your bill automatically or via a short application, usually based on benefits you already receive, and it’s the same amount for everyone who qualifies.
Energy hardship grants work differently. There’s no fixed figure, the amount depends on your specific circumstances and what the trust assesses you need, and you can apply on top of already getting the Warm Home Discount if your situation still isn’t manageable. The two aren’t mutually exclusive, and neither cancels out the other.
Priority Services Register status can also make a difference to how an application is handled, particularly if you’re disabled, elderly or seriously ill, so it’s worth mentioning if that applies to you when you apply.
How do you actually apply?
Each trust runs its own online application, usually asking about your household income, any benefits you receive, and the size of the debt or need. Most also want a recent bill or account reference to hand.
It’s worth applying to more than one if you’re eligible, since being turned down for energy hardship grants at one trust doesn’t rule out another. Citizens Advice and StepChange can also point you toward the right fund for your situation if you’re not sure where to start, and neither charges for that help. Applications typically take a few weeks to process, so it’s worth applying as soon as arrears start building rather than waiting until a disconnection or prepayment switch is already on the table.
Frequently asked questions about energy hardship grants
- Do I have to pay energy hardship grants back?
- No. They’re grants, not loans, and don’t need to be repaid or added to your account balance.
- Can I apply if I’m not that supplier’s customer?
- Sometimes. The British Gas Energy Trust accepts applications from anyone, while some other trusts prioritise their own customers, so it’s worth checking each one.
- How much could I actually get from energy hardship grants?
- It varies by trust and by your circumstances, from smaller top ups to sums that clear a significant arrears balance, assessed case by case rather than fixed.
- Will applying affect my credit score?
- No. These are charitable grants assessed on hardship, not credit applications, so they don’t appear on your credit file.
- What if I get turned down?
- You can usually apply to a different trust, and Citizens Advice or StepChange can help you find other support, including the Warm Home Discount and local council hardship funds.
None of this fixes a bill that’s too high to begin with, but if arrears have already built up, energy hardship grants are worth ten minutes of your time before you assume there’s no help available. They exist precisely because suppliers know a chunk of customers never ask. For the separate government scheme covering existing debt, see our guide on the energy debt relief scheme, and if a cheaper tariff would help going forward, our piece on resolving energy complaints covers what to do if a supplier isn’t playing fair once you’re back on track.
