Hundreds of thousands urged to apply for £400 support payment, here's how to do it

The online portal for energy support payments opens today with hundreds of thousands of households eligible for the £400 cash boost. Homes in England, Scotland and Wales who do not have a direct relationship with an energy supplier can apply via the secure portal for the one off payment.

The support is part of the ‘‘alternative funding’ available under the Government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS AF) and ministers are urging the 900,000 people eligible for the payment to apply as soon as possible.

Who is eligible for the energy payment?

Households eligible to apply for support under EBSS Alternative Funding include, as per Gov.uk:

• care home residents and others in care facilities/sheltered accommodation (wholly or partly self-funded)
• park home residents
• houseboats and caravans that can provide proof of address
• social and private tenants who pay for energy through a landlord on a commercial supply
• homes on a heat network/private wire
• off-grid homes
• farmhouses used for wholly domestic purposes

The alternative funding route was created to ensure the same level of support reaches those without a direct relationship to an electricity supplier. It’s also available for households who get their energy through a commercial contract or who are off-grid. Ministers are today encouraging all eligible households to apply as soon as possible for their support.

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How to apply

The payment will be made directly into people’s bank accounts to ensure households get the necessary support as soon as possible. So far over £7.2 billion has been provided to 97% of households across England, Scotland and Wales through monthly instalments, which most households receive automatically in the same way they pay these bills.

Minister at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Amanda Solloway, urge people to apple as soon as possible, as per Chronicle Live:

We understand the pressure households are under which is why we’ve already stepped in to pay around half of people’s energy bills this winter, and from today, thousands more will be able to apply securely for their £400.

Today I’m urging everyone who couldn’t get their EBSS discounts in the regular way to apply via our secure channels. If you don’t have a direct contract with an electricity supplier, it’s essential you submit your application as soon as possible. The sooner you do, the sooner help can get to you.

To check your eligibility and apply for the £400 payment, go to the GOV.UK website and use the online tool to complete the process.

For those without online access, the contact centre helpline can be reached on 0808 175 3287 for applicants in Great Britain, or 0808 175 3894 for applicants in Northern Ireland, where a representative will guide them through the application process. The helpline is open 8am to 6pm from Monday to Friday.

Read more:

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

Sources used:

- Gov.uk '900,000 more households to benefit from £400 of government energy bill support'

- Chronicle Live 'Over 900,000 homes to benefit from £400 Government energy bill boost from today'