Off-grid homes FINALLY get £400 in Government energy bill help

By Liam On Feb 28, 2023

Nearly 1 million households that have been waiting for government help with their energy bills can now apply for £400.

About 900,000 households without electricity or gas can apply for the money under the Energy Bill Alternative Funding Support Scheme.

That includes people in park homes, people living off-grid, and many properties that rely on heating oil.

These homes have fallen through the cracks in existing government energy bill support schemes and have eagerly awaited their own long-promised relief.

However, these properties will have to apply to get the money – and maybe not until this winter.

This is everything we know about the Energy Account Alternative Funding Subsidy Scheme and how it works.

Help at last: People who have fallen through the loopholes of existing government energy bill relief schemes can finally claim payments

How does the scheme work?

Most UK properties have already received £400 in energy bill rebates. That program, called the utility bill support scheme, made payments to properties with grid power and is administered by energy companies.

Homes with standard electricity meters have been getting monthly utility bill rebates of £66 or £67 since October 2022, and this will continue until March 2023.

Those with prepayment meters get £400 in the form of vouchers – but 1.9 million vouchers, or about a quarter of all users, have not yet redeemed them.

But the Energy Bill Support Scheme does not include people without electricity, and in some cases gas.

Why are energy bills so high?

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the demand for gas has increased enormously, but the supply is struggling to catch up. It has driven up prices and pushed up the cost of gas and electricity for both households and businesses.

This was exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has led to pressure on gas supplies across Europe and as analysts predict a cold winter could lead to blackouts and energy rationing.

That includes those living in park homes and houseboats, who may use bottled gas for heating and cooking, and may also lack electricity.

It also includes people who do not have a direct connection to an energy company, such as people who live in care homes and rent all-inclusive properties.

The government promised these properties would still receive the £400 aid, through the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding.

The scheme was due to start in January 2023, but was delayed. It finally launched on February 27.

A government spokesman said: ‘This means households not connected to the electricity grid and others who have no direct relationship with a domestic electricity supplier can apply for the payment of £400.’

Who gets the money?

Households are eligible for the £400 aid if they do not have an electricity meter or pay directly to an energy company and live in one of the following areas:

A residential park house
A boat on a fixed residential jetty
In a home that is part of a heating network without an electricity meter
Social or private rental homes with a business energy connection or communal electricity supply
A home that is not connected to the electricity or gas grid
A nursing home or assisted living facility and pay for some or all of their care
In a separate dwelling within a non-domestic property, such as a farmhouse or a flat above a shop
On a permanent gypsy or traveler site

Making a fuss: Energy bill help is now available for people who live on boats, provided they have a permanent berth

This also applies to Britons who use alternative fuels such as fuel oil, bottled gas or wood chip boilers – provided they have no electricity.

If they do, they should have already received a previous payment of £400 as energy bill rebates from the Energy Bill Support Scheme.

If you live in any of the following situations you will not be eligible for the £400:

In purpose-built student residences
In a nursing home and not paying your own costs
In your employer’s living quarters
As an asset manager
In business premises, such as a pub or hotel, where your address is the same as the business address
On a boat with a continuous boating license
On a non-permanent caravan or mobile home pitch

However, the last two groups are under review and could be included in the aid scheme in the future.

Applicants must also have a bank account in their name to get the £400.

How much will households receive from the scheme?

They get £400 per eligible property as a lump sum.

How do they get it?

Homes will have to apply for the £400 this National Portal or by calling 0808 175 3287.

If successful, payment will be made through their municipality.

The municipality first checks whether you live at the address you apply for. You will receive a response from the municipality within six weeks.

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A successful applicant must:

Pay for the energy their home consumes
Apply for their main, permanent home
Have a permanent address in England, Scotland or Wales

When will it launch?

The scheme was due to start in January 2023, but has been delayed.

Energy and Climate Minister Graham Stuart said last week that the delay was due to “significant complexity”.

A trial was started last week for a number of postcode areas.

When will I get the money?

This depends on your municipality and when you file a claim, but you should receive the money this winter.

What other cash assistance is available for off-grid properties?

The government also pays an additional £200 alternative fuel allowance to households using alternative fuels such as biomass or fuel oil.

Most eligible properties should receive payment automatically this month.

But for some homes, they must submit an application. They do this via the same central government portal as the Alternative Funding Energy Account Support Scheme.

The government has asked anyone who has not had the £200 Alternative Fuel Payment to wait until the end of February to apply.

What other energy support is offered?

As prices rise, energy companies are increasing their support for customers, including extra financing for customers in fuel poverty.

Suppliers in the UK provide discretionary support of around £54 million on top of the more than £1 billion in mandatory schemes they deliver each year, according to Energy UK.

Think of the Energy Company Obligation and Warm Houses Discount.

Suppliers have already implemented payment breaks, payment plans, and credit advances to customers on prepayment meters.

Other measures include:

Eligible British Gas customers will be offered grants of between £250 and £750
EDF Energy is reaching out to 100,000 vulnerable customers to offer them tailored assistance and access to apps such as Energy Hub, which can help them reduce their bills by an extra £100
Octopus set up a £5 million fund at the start of the energy crisis to help customers unable to afford living expenses
Utilita introduces an emergency fund to help customers write off debt

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