£400 offered to hundreds of thousands to help with energy bills, check if you qualify

People living in care homes and caravan parks can receive £400 to help with their fuel bills as part of a government drive to support all UK households with energy costs this winter. More help will also be offered to families in Northern Ireland.

£400 to help households without energy contracts

The UK government said on Monday that 900,000 households in England, Scotland and Wales without a direct relationship with an energy supplier would be able to apply online for the £400.

The scheme is expected to include people living in care homes, caravan parks, houseboats, homes supplied through private wires, socially rented homes, farmers and households living off-grid.

They will need to apply online in January and there will be a phone helpline for those without internet access, with details expected to be announced next month. The payments will then be processed via local authorities.

£600 in energy support in Northern Ireland

Separately, all households in Northern Ireland will receive a one-off payment of £600 to help with their energy bills, with payments starting in January. Households in Great Britain that use alternative fuels will receive a £200 payment.

Ministers are attempting to complement the existing energy price guarantee scheme, which limits average annual bills to about £2,500 until April, and £3,000 after that.

Why are energy prices rising?

Energy bills have risen sharply this year after Russia’s invasion of Ukrainepushed up already inflated gas prices. Prices are expected to remain high through 2023 as European countries try to replace Russian gas supplies.

The business and energy secretary, Grant Shapps, said:

Putin’s illegal war has caused global energy prices to soar, but we are continuing to work hard and urgently to get help to households across the UK, and this update provides people with more certainty on when and how we will deliver help with fuel bills.

According to Shapps, the government is already limiting the amount suppliers can charge consumers for their energy through the energy price guarantee, which will continue to help consumers through March 2024.

The government said last month it would double support to £200 for about 2m UK households using alternative fuels such as heating oil, coal, liquefied petroleum gas, and biomass, to heat their homes.

Jeremy Huntis expected to issue an update on the future of that scheme this week and announce its extension at a less generous rate.

Sources used:

- The Guardian: 'People living in care homes and caravans offered £400 energy payment'