British Gas to give hard-up households up to £1,700 to pay off debts – and you don't even have to be a customer

The Sun

3 days ago

BRITISH Gas is to give thousands of hard-up households up to £1,700 to pay off their debts - and you don't even need to be a customer.
The British Gas Energy Trust's Individual and Families Fund is now accepting applications from those struggling with energy debt.
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The scheme was set up in 2021 to help households struggling with energy debt.
However, unlike other energy supplier grants, the support is available to both British Gas and non-British Gas customers.
Energy customers could previously get up to £1,500 in help from the fund, but it recently increased this to £1,700 last winter to help an increasing number of households in debt.
Ofgem figures show that energy debt rose to a new high of £4.15billion in the first quarter of 2025.
While you don't need to be a British Gas customer to get the grant, not everyone is eligible.
There are certain criteria that you need to meet to be considered for the Individual and Families Fund, including:
Pre-payment meter customers must have between £50 and £1,700 of energy debt
Credit customers must have between £250 and £1,700 of energy debt
You live in England, Scotland, or Wales
You have not received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust within the last 2 years
You must be seeking a grant to clear an outstanding debt on a current or open gas, electricity or dual fuel energy account. The account must be in your name and relate to your main residence
You have received help from a money advice agency within the last six months
Customers with energy debts worth more than £1,700 will not be eligible for support through the fund.
British Gas Energy Trust boss Jessica Taplin said, 'We're pleased to announce the reopening of our Individuals and Families Fund to both credit and prepayment meter account holders, as we know just how important it is.
'Many households across Britain continue to struggle with high energy costs alongside other financial challenges, and this means we can once again provide vital support, regardless of which energy supplier they're with.
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"This fund will help those who need it most get back on stable ground and feel confident in keeping their homes and families warm and safe.'
Although British Gas Energy Trust welcomes applications from customers of all energy suppliers, customers from the following companies should seek assistance through their own hardship schemes first:
Ovo Energy
E.ON Next
EDF Energy
Scottish Power
Octopus Energy
Utilita
If you're rejected by your own energy company's fund, you can apply for the grant at britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/grants-available/.
What other suppliers offer
Most energy suppliers have a discretionary grant scheme to help support vulnerable customers.
Grants vary by supplier, and the exact amount you'll get will depend on your own financial circumstances.
These are all the other energy suppliers offering support.
EDF Energy
EDF's Customer Support Fund provides grants to support vulnerable customers struggling with energy debt.
Grants are given to help clear debt and to help fund the provision of essential white goods, such as fridges or cookers.
You can apply to the scheme at www.edfenergy.com/help-support/faq/get-help-our-customer-support-fund.
But before you can apply for funding, you need to seek independent debt advice.
You will also need to provide your EDF account number, current debt balance and details of your household finances and vulnerability.
E.ON Next
Customers of E.ON Next can apply for cash grants to help with their energy costs.
E.ON doesn't have established eligibility criteria, but the fund aims to help as many people as possible, and applications from individuals with the greatest needs will be prioritised.
You must know your energy account number and provide a recent meter reading to complete your application.
As part of your application, you'll also be asked to provide evidence of your circumstances, such as proof of household income or DWP benefit payments.
Find out more, including how to apply, by visiting www.eonnextenergyfund.com.
Octopus Energy
Octopus Energy offers a range of support, including cash from its Octopus Energy Assist Fund.
It could also include loaning a thermal imagery camera to find heat leaks in your home, which you can fix to reduce energy usage and your bill.
It also conducts home energy visits to discuss how households can reduce their usage and gives out free electric blankets.
Octopus is encouraging all customers to get in contact if they're struggling with their bills.
Octo Assist fund is still open for applications, and customers have no deadline for applying.
Find out more by visiting www.octopus.energy/blog/octo-assist.
ScottishPower
ScottishPower has handed out more than £60m in support to customers experiencing difficulties in paying their energy bills, through its Hardship Fund.
You could qualify for help from the fund if you receive support from the following benefits:
Income-related employment and support allowance
Income-based Jobseeker's allowance
Income support
Housing benefit
Universal Credit
Tax credits
Pension credit savings credit
Help could also be available if you have a low household income or if special circumstances, such as illness, have impacted your earnings.
To apply you'll first need to sought advice from debt charity Step Change by calling 0800 138 1111.
You'll then need to apply for funding through Scottish Power 's scheme by visiting support.sigmaconnected.com/scottish-power-hardship-fund.
If your application is successful, the fund can wipe all or part of your energy debt.
Utilita
Utilita Giving is Utilita's charity partner and offers grants to vulnerable customers to help clear energy debt.
The fund provides grants to wipe or reduce energy debts.
However, it's only available to customers on legacy credit meter.
To find out more and how to apply, visit www.utilitagiving.org/helping-hand-fund.
Utility Warehouse
Utility Warehouse offers financial assistance to customers struggling with their bills.
Citizens Advice Plymouth operates the scheme, which also provides Utility Warehouse customers with budgeting advice and benefits assessments.
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