Major energy supplier DOUBLES its energy bill hardship fund – how to apply for help

ANOTHER major energy supplier has DOUBLED its energy bill hardship fund as families struggle to get by.

Octopus Energy has increased its financial hardship fund, Octo Assist, from £2.5million to £5million.

It comes as a number of energy suppliers have launched schemes giving out more cash help to hard-up households pay their bills.

Millions of families saw their energy bills double at the beginning of the month, with £700 added to the average household bill.

That's because the energy price cap, which limits how much suppliers can charge customers for their energy, jumped 54%, with even further rises expected in October.

Shell Energy and British Gas have increased their own hardship funds to help customers.

Octopus doubled its own fund for hard-up households last month.

But households are being encouraged to apply for help with their energy bills now as the cost of living crisis continues to grip the nation.

It comes as Octopus also announced last month it has put in place a loyalty tariff that is below the set energy price cap - which means bills are £48 a year cheaper for eligible customers.

Every Octopus customer on a Standard Variable Tariff will get £2 off the price cap - existing or new.

So they pay £1,969 rather than the £1,971 that has been set by the new price cap.

How do you apply and who is eligible?

Octopus told The Sun that there is no specific criteria for customers to be eligible for a grant from its hardship fund.

It said that most customers who have been given money have been in debt with their energy bills - but this isn't a condition for getting the help.

The supplier speaks to every customer directly to decide if they can get a slice of the funding. It's decided on a case-by-case basis.