BILL BOOST
One-week warning for thousands to apply for £1,700 free energy bill vouchers after fund is discontinued
Plus, how to claim up to £2,000 more from other available supports
THOUSANDS of households have just over a week left to claim free cash worth up to £1,700.
The average UK home is currently spending £1,928 a year on energy bills, but there is help on offer if you're struggling to meet payments.
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The Home Heating Support Fund is one of the sources and is available to households in Scotland who can't cover the cost of their gas and electricity.
It launched in 2020 and has run every year since - but the latest round will close to new applications on February 16.
Over 5,000 people have already benefited from the pot of cash since last April when it launched.
Below, we reveal everything you need to know about the fund and how to make a claim now before it closes. But you'll need to be quick.
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Don't worry if you're not currently living in Scotland, as we've listed help you can get if you're based elsewhere in the UK.
Who is eligible and how much could I get?
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said anyone who is "struggling to meet their fuel costs" can apply to the fund.
This could be if you're on a prepayment meter and limiting the amount you use because you're worried about running out, also known as "self-rationing".
You will also need to have had money or energy advice from an accredited agency such as Home Energy Scotland to be considered.
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Crucially, prepayment meter customers can only apply if they are in credit.
Your personal circumstances are also taken into consideration when applying. This includes if:
- you live in a rural or remote area
- you are 75 or over
- you are on a disability benefit
- you use medical equipment
- you use alternative fuel such as oil, wood, or liquefied petroleum gas
- you're on Scottish Child Benefit
- you're a foster care leaver
You can find more details on who is eligible on the Home Heating Advice Scotland website.
If your application is successful, a payment is either issued directly to your energy supplier or as a voucher via email or text.
You can then redeem the voucher at your nearest Post Office or PayPoint location.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said it had issued a voucher worth £1,700 to one household this winter.
Of course, the exact amount you get can vary, but it indicates how much you could potentially receive.
How to apply
There are three main ways you can apply for help.
You can make an application on behalf of your household using the application form on the Home Heating Advice Scotland website.
You can also call its helpline on 0808 196 8646 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
There's also a host of referral partners who can walk you through the application process.
Again, more details can be found on the Home Heating Advice Scotland website.
What other help is there?
There's plenty of help on offer if you live outside Scotland and need help with your energy bills.
The Household Support Fund is one option.
The latest round is worth £842million and has been distributed between councils in England.
They have then been allocating their share to residents in need.
But each council gets to decide its own eligibility criteria which means whether you are eligible for anything will vary depending on where you live.
In most cases though, help is offered to those on benefits or a low income.
The type of help on offer varies as well, with some councils handing out energy vouchers and others paying money directly into bank accounts.
If you're on benefits, like Universal Credit, it's worth contacting your local council now to see if you can get help.
You can find out what council area you fall under by using the Government's council locator tool and entering your postcode.
Bear in mind the latest round of funding is only available until March 31, so you'll have to be quick.
You might also be able to claim a free grant from your energy firm if you're struggling to make payments.
British Gas, Octopus Energy and EDF are some of the major companies that offer help worth up to £2,000.
Meanwhile, you might be one of thousands who still need to apply for the Warm Home Discount, which is worth £150.
Or, you could qualify for a cold weather payment worth £25.
Plus, it's worth checking if you're eligible for benefits, as it could be worth thousands of pounds more a year.
You can check if you might qualify for benefits by using several free online calculators:
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In other news, we reveal all the freebies and discounts you can get in February if you're on Universal Credit - and they're worth up to £13k.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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