Energy debt grants up to £1,700 available

British Gas Energy Trust is encouraging pensioners to apply for energy support this winter.

The trust is offering energy debt grants up to £1,700 for both British Gas and non-British Gas customers with debt on a credit or pre-payment meter account.

The reopening of the Individuals and Families Fund comes as changes to Winter Fuel Payments means an estimated 10 million elderly people are no longer eligible for this form of state support.

Only pensioners in England and Wales who are in receipt of any one of Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit or Universal Credit will receive a winter fuel payment of between £100 and £300, subject to eligibility conditions.

In 2023-24, the Trust was able to support over 5,300 households with more than £7.8m in energy debt grants, with over £5.1m provided to those in England.

One client to receive support was Miss D, a single pensioner renting a property from her local authority. Miss D had recently had a stroke and whilst recovering in hospital was diagnosed with heart failure.

Her daughters discovered her energy debt when sorting through her bills. Miss D received money advice as part of her application and can manage her future energy charges having received an £115 grant from the trust to clear her arrears.

Chief Executive Officer of the trust Jessica Taplin said: “We encourage applications to the Individuals and Families Fund from anyone that needs support with their energy debt. 

"The change in eligibility criteria for the Winter Fuel Payments, coupled with the energy price cap increase from October, means more people might find themselves struggling with their bills as we head towards winter. 

"This fund will help us support as many eligible households as possible across Britain, whether British Gas customer or otherwise.”

As part of its support package, the trust also funds 29 money and energy advice projects in community-based charities and social enterprises across England. 

These projects provide clients with free and impartial advice on things such as budget planning, benefits and income maximisation checks, energy efficiency measures and generalist subjects such as housing, employment and mental health support.

The British Gas Energy Trust is a Charitable Trust established in 2004 and independent from, but solely funded by, British Gas. Its mission is to alleviate the detrimental impact of poverty, with a focus on fuel poverty. 

Support is delivered through three programmes: energy grants which can help households with up to £2,000 in fuel debt; a small grants programme that provides emergency energy vouchers and financial assistance payments; and a programme that funds over 40 money and energy advice projects throughout Britain.