Help with bills (gas, electric, water, phone and broadband)
If you get a message asking for your bank details, this could be a scam. You can report messages you think are suspicious.
Help to pay energy bills
Your energy supplier can help if you are having difficulties with your gas and electric bills. You can get other grants and benefits too. Your options will depend on your situation.
If you're struggling to pay for energy or think you may get into difficulty, contact your supplier through Ofgem.
Help from suppliers
Many energy companies offer schemes or grants to help with home heating and energy costs. For example, by making your home more energy-efficient or offering free boiler checks and upgrades. You do not have to be a customer to join some of these schemes.
Citizens Advice lists grants some larger suppliers offer.
Citizens Advice also has a range of useful guides and information, including one about getting help with paying energy bills.
All energy suppliers and network operators keep a Priority Services Register. This is a free service to make sure that extra help is available for people in vulnerable situations.
You can register if you are of pension age, have a disability or medical condition, are pregnant or have young children.
Visit the Ofgem website to find out more about the Priority Services Register and who is eligible.
Help from the government
You might qualify for the:
- Winter Fuel Payment– for people born on or before 25 September 1957.
- Cold Weather Payment– a payment for every 7 days of very cold weather (below freezing) between November and March.
- Warm Home Discount– a discount for some people getting Pension Credit or some people in low-income households.
You can find further government support such as: the energy price guarantee, warm home discount and the help to heat scheme. Read more about how you can get help with your energy bills.
Other support available
There are several simple, quick things you could do that could help you to save on your energy bills now, as well as some home improvements to could reduce your bills in the long term.
If you own a property you can use the GOV.UK energy efficiency calculator to get recommendations for home improvements that could make your property cheaper to heat and keep warm.
For each recommendation you can see:
- an estimated cost of making the improvement
- how much you could save on your bills
- next steps if you want to make the improvement
Other ways to save energy
- Help for Households energy saving tips
- Energy saving tips from the Energy Saving Trust
- Your home energy checklist (pdf) from National Energy Action (NEA)
Understand your electricity consumption around the home (pdf). This includes:
- how much appliances cost to run
- where you might be able to make savings
Energy advice and grants
Homeowners and tenants who receive benefits, are on a low income or have long term health issues, may be entitled to grant funding to help improve the overall energy efficiency for their property. Find out more about energy advice and grants.
The Better Housing Better Health service offers free advice on how to improve the energy efficiency of your home and reduce heating bills.
If you’re struggling to pay your water bill, you can get free water saving devices and advice from your water supplier to help you save money on your bill. To find out water saving tips, visit your water supplier’s website:
You may also be eligible for support from your water supplier to help pay your water bill.
Citizens Advice has some useful guidance about how to speak to your water supplier if you’re having problems paying your water bill.
WaterSure
WaterSure is a scheme which helps some people with their water bills. If you're on benefits and need to use a lot of water either for medical reasons, or because your household has a certain number of school-age children, you may be able to apply.
You'll need to be on a water meter or be waiting to have one installed. Check your eligibility at Citizen’s Advice - WaterSure scheme.
If you're having difficulty paying for phone or broadband you should speak to your provider.
Some broadband providers offer cheaper broadband and phone packages (called 'social tariffs') for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and other benefits.
Broadband social tariffs are delivered in the same way as normal packages, just at a lower price.
For a list of available tariffs and to find out if you’re eligible, visit the Ofcom website.
You may be able to get a free TV licence if you’re aged over 75 and:
- claiming Pension Credit
- you live in a care home
- you're blind