Energy bills account for a significant chunk of household expenses, and for those on low incomes or claiming benefits, the burden is a heavy one – especially during the colder months when we use more energy.
In 2026, inflation on basic living costs, and changes to tariffs and government support schemes will continue to impact families who may face difficult choices between heating their homes and other essentials.
If you're worried about your bills, you're not alone – and you may be entitled to more help than you realise.
This guide covers the energy grants, schemes, one-off payments and other government and supplier help with energy bills available in 2026.
Whether you're looking for help with gas and electric costs or want to make your home cheaper to heat long-term, here are all the options, and how to access them.
What Grants Are Available to Help with Energy Bills?
The government help with energy bills that you can get depends on a few factors: how you pay for your energy, the type of energy you use, whether you claim benefits, and where you live in the UK.
Some energy grants are applied automatically. Others require an application.
The main types of energy bill support schemes available in 2026 are:
- government payment schemes - Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) help with energy bills, such as the Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payment)
- grants for energy-saving home improvements - boiler grants and insulation grants
- supplier hardship funds and fuel vouchers
- other help with energy bills for people claiming benefits – the Fuel Direct Scheme, Crisis and Resilience Fund, disability equipment rebates and free electric blanket programmes
Read on for a full breakdown of each.
Warm Home Discount Scheme
The Warm Home Discount Scheme takes £150 off your electricity bill. For most people, it's applied automatically – you don't need to do anything. Electricity suppliers will have applied the discount to the bill of anyone eligible by 31 March 2026.
Am I eligible?
You qualify for the Warm Home Discount in England or Wales if you either:
- receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
- are on a low income
In Scotland, the criteria are the same, but low-income households must meet their energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme. They will also need to apply directly through their energy supplier rather than waiting for it to come through automatically.
If your supplier provides both gas and electricity and you're eligible, they may be able to apply the discount to your gas bill instead if you ask them to. For prepayment meter customers, the discount usually comes as a top-up voucher sent by post, email or text, or automatic credit added to your meter. Your supplier will tell you how you'll receive it.
The Warm Home Discount Scheme closed on 31 March 2026 but reopens again in October 2026.
Winter Fuel Payment
If you are State Pension age – born before 28 June 1960 – and live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you may be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment.
This energy bill grant is a one-off annual payment of between £100 and £300 to help with your gas and electric bill during the coming winter.
Am I eligible?
Eligibility is based on your circumstances during the qualifying week of 21 to 27 September 2026. You won't be eligible if you were in hospital receiving free treatment or in prison for the whole of that week, or usually live outside England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
If you live in a care home, you can still receive the payment. However, you won't be eligible if both of the following apply:
- you receive Universal Credit, Pension Credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- you lived in a care home for the whole time from 28 June 2026 or earlier
The amount you receive depends on when you were born and whether you live with someone else who is also eligible. You do not need to make a claim if you receive any of the benefits listed here.
If you’re eligible for this energy bill grant, you’ll get a letter in October or November saying how much you’ll get. Most people get the money automatically in November or December.
However, if you don’t receive it automatically, you may need to make a claim. Claims for winter 2026 to 2027 open from 21 September 2026. If you don't receive a letter but think you're eligible, check whether you need to make a claim at GOV.UK.
If your total income is over £35,000, you'll still receive the Winter Fuel Payment, but HMRC will take it back through your taxes. Your partner’s income does not count towards your total.
People living in Scotland receive the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment instead, worth between £101.70 and £305.10. This is also paid automatically for most people, although a small number of people will need to apply, which you can check here. The same £35,000 income threshold applies, calculated on individual rather than joint income.
Cold Weather Payments
Cold Weather Payments work differently to the Winter Fuel Payment. Rather than one fixed annual amount, you get £25 each time the average temperature in your area drops to zero degrees Celsius or below for 7 days in a row, between 1 November and 31 March each year. During a cold snap, that can add up quickly.
These Cold Weather Payments are made automatically if you are eligible, and don't affect any other benefits you receive.
Am I eligible?
You may be eligible if you're receiving one of the following benefits:
- Pension Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
You'll also need to have a disability or pensioner premium, a disabled child, or a child under five living with you. You can check if you are eligible here.
You don’t need to apply. However, if a baby or a child under 5 comes to live with you, you may need to tell Jobcentre Plus, in order to get these payments automatically.
You can check if a postcode in England or Wales is eligible here.
Cold Weather Payments aren't available in Scotland, where the Winter Heating Payment – an annual fixed amount that’s not weather-dependent – applies instead.
Boiler and Insulation Grants
If your home is expensive to heat, improving its energy efficiency can bring bills down significantly over time.
There are several UK government energy grants available in 2026 – such as boiler grants and insulation grants – to help cover those costs.
Energy Company Obligation (ECO4)
This energy grant will run until 31 December 2026 and can cover energy-saving improvements for eligible households – things like loft and cavity wall insulation, boiler repairs or replacements, and other heating upgrades.
Am I eligible?
You may qualify if you claim certain benefits. You can check your eligibility here.
- If you own your home, it must have an energy efficiency rating of D, E, F or G.
- If you rent from a private landlord, the house must have an energy efficiency rating of E, F or G, and you’ll need your landlord’s permission for the work.
- If you live in social housing rated E, F or G, you might be eligible for insulation or installing a heating system for the first time.
You can use the energy performance certificate register to find your property’s energy efficiency rating or ask your landlord or housing association.
Contact your local council to find out if they’re taking part in the Energy Company Obligation scheme or contact an energy supplier directly. You can also see a list of suppliers taking part in the scheme here.
The Warm Homes: Local Grant is another heating grant that offers free energy efficiency improvements if you’re receiving certain benefits, on a low income, or live in a certain postcode area. Eligible households are those in England, in privately owned homes – whether you own or rent – with an EPC rating of D, E, F or G.
Am I eligible?
Household income usually needs to be below £36,000 a year, though you may still qualify above that threshold if you live in a qualifying postcode or someone in your household receives certain benefits.
If you're unsure of your home's EPC rating, you can check your eligibility when you apply for the heating grant here.
Similar insulation grant schemes are available in Wales through Nest, and in Scotland through Warmer Homes Scotland.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is one of the more significant UK government energy grants available right now.
This boiler grant helps people cover the upfront cost of replacing a fossil fuel heating system such as oil, gas, electric or LPG with a low-carbon alternative such as a heat pump or biomass boiler.
You can get one boiler grant per property.
Am I eligible?
The scheme is open to homeowners and small business owners in England and Wales with a fossil fuel or electric heating system (without a heat pump). Current grants are available for:
- £7,500 towards an air source heat pump (sometimes called an air-to-water heat pump), ground source heat pump or water source heat pump
- £5,000 towards a biomass boiler
- £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump
Find out if you are eligible here.
You don't apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme directly. Your installer will tell you if you are eligible for the grant. They will then apply on your behalf and deduct the grant value from your quote upfront.
Make sure your installer is MCS Certified and a member of an approved consumer code such as the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) or HIES Consumer Code. It's also worth getting quotes from at least three different installers before agreeing to any work, to make sure you’re getting the best value.
Energy Supplier Hardship Funds, Fuel Vouchers and Temporary Credit
If you've found yourself falling behind on energy bills, it's worth knowing that most major suppliers offer energy grants to customers who are struggling.
In the case of the British Gas Energy Trust’s Individual and Families Fund, you don't even have to be a British Gas customer to apply. This fund is open to anyone, regardless of who supplies their energy, and offers grants to people who need help clearing energy debt of up to £1,700. You can check your eligibility here.
Other funds currently available include:
- EDF Energy Customer Support Fund
- E.ON Next Energy Fund
- Octopus Octo Assist Fund
- OVO Customer Support Package
- Scottish Power Hardship Fund
If your supplier isn't listed, contact them directly to see what extra support they can give you.
If you're on a prepayment meter and can’t afford to top it up, a fuel voucher is another form of free help with your electric bill or gas costs. Contact your local council or Citizens Advice to find out if you’re eligible.
You'll receive a code by letter, text or email that adds credit to your gas card or electricity key – or directly to your smart prepayment meter account online.
Fuel vouchers can be redeemed at PayPoint shops or Post Offices or shops signed up to Payzone. If you get a fuel voucher, check the expiry date as you may only have 15 days to use it.
To use these energy vouchers, you’ll need to take:
- the code and instructions
- some form of ID - for example, your passport or a bill with your name and address
If you have problems using the energy voucher, contact the organisation that gave it to you - you should be able to find their contact information on the instructions.
Many food banks also offer these fuel vouchers in partnership with the Fuel Bank Foundation, typically for households with prepayment meters who have been referred for emergency food support.
If you can’t afford to top up your meter, or are having problems topping up, contact your supplier straight away and explain your situation. Ofgem rules mean that they must offer your support, which may include ‘additional support credit’ if you are in a vulnerable situation and have few options to pay, or while your work out ways to pay.
You normally need to pay back the additional support credit, but they must work with you to agree a payment plan you can afford.
Your energy supplier may also provide a temporary credit called ‘friendly hours credit’ or ‘friendly credit’. This is added automatically if you run out of credit during certain times such as at night, weekends or bank holidays.
It’s best to check with your supplier whether you can get friendly credit and which hours apply.
If you can’t afford to top up or run out of credit in normal hours, you can access ‘emergency credit’. The amount depends on what your supplier has set it as, but is normally around £10. If you have a smart pay-as-you-go meter, you can normally access this using your in-home display. If you have a traditional prepayment meter you can access it by inserting your electric key or gas card in the meter when it is below a certain balance.
Be aware, you will need to pay back any friendly credit or emergency credit that you use next time you top up your meter.
Help with Energy Bills if You Receive Benefits
If you're on benefits or have a low income, it can feel like the system is hard to navigate. However, there's more support available than many people know about, and it's worth checking each option, as you may be eligible for several at once.
As well as the Warm Home Discount, Cold Weather Payment, Winter Fuel Payment, fuel vouchers, ECO4 and the Warm Homes: Local Grant covered above, you may also be eligible for the following.
Fuel Direct Scheme
If you’re struggling to pay for your energy and owe money, you may be able to pay directly from your benefit payments. For gas and electricity payments, this is known as Fuel Direct.
The following benefits can be used:
- Universal Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Pension Credit
Your supplier can ask for deductions to be made from your benefits to pay any outstanding energy bills as well as your ongoing energy usage, if they have already offered other payment arrangements but none were suitable for you.
You’ll be told how much will be deducted by letter or in your Universal Credit journal. Then, your supplier will continue to receive payments directly from your benefits, and any debt action on your account will stop.
Fuel Direct can help you manage your energy bills if other payment arrangements or pay-as-you-go meters are not suitable for you.
This has replaced the Household Support Fund for households in England. You may be able to get help with essential costs from your local council. This could help if you’re struggling to afford things like:
- energy and water bills
- food
- essential items
- housing costs
If you live in Scotland, you may be able to get help from the Scottish Welfare Fund, or from the Discretionary Assistance Fund if you live in Wales.
Councils decide how to run their schemes. There may be differences in eligibility criteria, if or how you need to apply, and who money is given to. It’s best to check with your local council to find out what support is available.
Disability equipment rebates
If you use and charge medical and disability equipment at home, you could:
- check with your supplier that you are on the best tariff for your situation, such as Economy 7
- see if you can get financial help from your supplier
If you use an oxygen concentrator at home, you can get a rebate for the electricity it uses. Call:
- BOC Home Oxygen Service on freephone 0800 136 603
- or Air Liquide Healthcare on freephone 0800 781 9939
Free electric blanket programmes
It costs around £4 a day to heat a whole home, but as little as 2–4p an hour to heat a person with an electric blanket, so it’s an incredibly energy-efficient way to help with energy bills and stay cosy.
If you cannot afford to buy one, both OVO Energy and Octopus Energy are currently offering free electric blankets to eligible UK customers this winter.
OVO Energy's free electric blanket
If you’re an OVO or Boost customer, you can apply online for the supplier’s Extra Support package, which includes free energy-saving products, such as electric throws and mattress toppers.
Octopus Energy's free electric blanket
Octopus Energy is giving free electric blankets (one per household) to UK Octopus customers most in need this winter.
They are prioritising the elderly, and those with mobility issues or medical conditions that mean they spend a lot of time in one spot or are more impacted by the cold.
Child Winter Heating Payment (Scotland)
Scottish families with disabled children and young people under 19 may receive £265.50 per eligible child for winter 2026-2027, to help with higher heating costs.
Eligibility is based on receiving certain disability benefits, including the highest rate care component of DLA for children or Child Disability Payment, or the enhanced rate daily living component of PIP or Adult Disability Payment.
If you’re struggling to pay your energy bills, contact Citizens Advice for more information on grants and support to help you pay your energy bills.
How to Apply for Energy Grants and Support Schemes
The UK government offers many grants to help pay energy bills. How you apply depends on which energy grant or energy bill support scheme you're going for.
For the Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payment, most eligible people don't need to apply at all. Payments come through automatically. The exception is if you're a low-income household in Scotland applying for the Warm Home Discount.
If you don’t get a payment automatically in November or December 2026 and believe you are eligible, you should make a claim for winter 2026 to 2027 before the deadline, which is normally end of March.
For the Warm Homes: Local Grant, the starting point is your local council, and for ECO4, check if your energy supplier is taking part in the scheme.
For the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, you find an MCS-certified installer, agree a quote, and they apply for the energy funding on your behalf. The grant is deducted from your quote upfront. You never handle the money directly.
For supplier hardship funds, apply directly through your supplier's website.
For the Fuel Direct Scheme, contact your energy supplier and they will check your eligibility and request deductions on your behalf.
For the Crisis and Resilience Fund, check with your local council.
Report Energy Theft
Only energy suppliers, the government, or other non-profit organisations are able to provide free or discounted electricity.
If anyone else, such as a local tradesperson, offers to fix your meter to help with energy bills, this is illegal. This is energy theft.
Energy scams involving meter tampering have been making the headlines over the past few years. Staying informed is the best way to stay safe. Learn how to protect yourself from energy scams here.
Meter tampering not only increases costs for others – adding around £50 per year to every customer’s bill – but it also puts you and your loved ones in grave danger. You can read about the consequences here.
If someone you know is tampering with their gas or electricity meter, it’s essential to report it, 100% anonymously, to Stay Energy Safe.
What Happens if You Don’t Pay for Your Energy Bills?
Many suppliers charge extra fees for late payments, and non-payment could also damage your credit rating and make it harder to borrow money in the future. Suppliers could pass your details to a debt collection agency and may charge you to cover the cost of this.
If you are struggling to pay and need more help with energy bills, under Ofgem rules, your supplier must work with you to agree a payment plan you can afford.
You can also ask them for:
- a review of your current payments and debt repayments
- payment breaks or reductions
- more time to pay
- access to hardship funds
- advice on how to use less energy
Ofgem also offers practical advice and support.
If you haven’t paid a bill after 28 days, your supplier may contact you about the possibility of disconnecting your gas or electricity supply. It’s rare to be disconnected as your supplier will usually offer to install a prepayment meter or switch an existing smart meter to prepayment mode.
If your supplier decides to disconnect you, they must give you a chance to pay your debt through a payment plan.
If you've reached State Pension age, your supplier can't disconnect you between 1 October and 31 March if you either:
- live alone
- live only with pensioners, or under-18s
Keeping up with energy bills is stressful, but you don't have to figure it out alone.
If rising energy costs are putting pressure on your finances, it’s important to look for safe, legal support. Energy companies will do everything they can to help you manage your debt and feel safe again. Remember: the sooner you engage with your supplier, the sooner you can receive help and support. Tampering with gas or electricity meters is dangerous and illegal, and these schemes exist to help people reduce bills safely.
If you've worked through this guide and still aren't sure which energy bill grants or energy bill support schemes you might be entitled to, or need help filling in forms, Citizens Advice is a good first port of call. They can help you work out what's available for your household.
The organisations listed here can also support you with energy costs and help you find out what financial support you’re entitled to.
Whatever your situation, help is available. It's always worth asking.
Remember, scammers prey on people in tough times. Be wary of anyone promising ‘free energy’ or quick fixes that seem too good to be true. This isn’t just illegal – it’s extremely dangerous.
Staying safe is what matters most. That means knowing how to spot and prevent energy theft.
If you suspect someone of tampering with a meter, speak up. Report it 100% anonymously to Stay Energy Safe, using our online form or by calling 0800 023 2777. By doing so, you could save a life.
To learn more, visit our pages on electricity theft and gas theft.