British Gas is offering up to £1,700 of support to state pensioners and other households struggling with energy debts this winter. The British Gas Energy Trust is reopening its Energy Support Grant from October 1, providing payments into energy accounts for both credit and prepayment meter customers.
The move comes as energy bills rose by 4% overall on October 1, adding to cost-of-living pressures for many older households despite the universal Winter Fuel Payment.
Who can apply
The grant is open to British Gas customers with credit or prepayment meter accounts as of October 1. Customers who have not received a grant from the fund within the last two years may be eligible, depending on their current energy debt.
Customers of rival energy firms may also qualify if they have been rejected by their own supplier. The trust lists OVO, Boost, E.ON Next, EDF, ScottishPower, Octopus, Shell Energy, SSE, Utility Warehouse and Sainsbury’s Energy as suppliers whose customers must apply to their own firm first. Evidence of refusal is required.
Eligibility rules
Applicants must have between £50 and £1,700 of debt if they are a pre-payment customer, or £100 to £1,700 if they are a credit account customer. They must have received money advice or guidance within the last six months, unless using the trust’s self-help Benefit Calculator tool.
Other criteria include having a household income of less than £25,000, or having someone in the household who is registered disabled and receives a disability benefit, receives Carers Allowance, has three or more children, is a single household occupant, is a lone parent household with fewer than three children, or is in or facing fuel poverty.
The trust cannot consider applications for closed accounts, such as if the applicant has moved home or changed supplier. Applications are made via the British Gas Energy Trust website.
