The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Fund (EBSS AF) is now live for households without a direct relationship to an electricity supplier who aren’t already receiving an automatic discount, such as those living in park homes and care homes.
You can now apply via a secure online portal to receive the support as a one-off, non-repayable lump sum under the ‘alternative funding’ route of the government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme. For those without online access, a dedicated customer helpline is available to assist eligible customers.
Richard Fuller MP said:
This is long overdue and an issue that I have raised in Parliament on a number of occasions. Nevertheless, it is very welcome and will provide a significant financial boost to almost 1 million households across the country.
This discount needs to be applied for, so please pass this information to anyone you know who fits the above criteria and has not benefited from the automatic discount applied to bills since October.
Once customers have applied to receive energy support and their applications have been processed and verified, eligible customers’ details will be shared with Local Authorities who will deliver the support in one lump sum. Local authorities may request additional information to assist their verification process – but only once an application has been made via the secure portal or helpline. Applicants will only be able to submit information through these channels and should not contact their local authority. The exact date that an eligible household will receive support will depend on when the application is made and when the payment can be processed by the relevant local authority.
To apply, please visit this page. Customers who do not have online access should call 0808 1753 287.
Households eligible to apply for support under EBSS Alternative Funding include:
- care home residents and others in care facilities/sheltered accommodation (wholly or partly self-funded)
- park home residents
- houseboats and caravans that can provide proof of address
- social and private tenants who pay for energy through a landlord on a commercial supply
- homes on a heat network/private wire
- off-grid homes
- farmhouses used for wholly domestic purposes
