Money Wellness
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category iconcost of living
calendar icon29 Sep 2023

British Gas opens fund to help struggling customers this winter

British Gas has launched a new support fund to help customers struggling with energy costs this winter.

The British Gas Energy Support Fund will open for new applications on 2nd October and will provide grants of up to £1,500 to customers finding it difficult to pay their bills.

The fund is part of a £100 million commitment British Gas has made to help customers with the soaring cost of energy since the crisis began.

Support has included grants to cover energy debts for households and businesses, non-repayable credit to prepayment customers and funding for advice centres and charities.

The new grant comes at a crucial time for many households with winter around the corner and total energy debt in the UK standing around the £2.25 billion mark, up by more than 70% from three years ago.

British Gas isn’t just helping its own customers. It provides support to ALL struggling households in the UK through the British Gas Energy Trust, an independent charity that’s separate to the energy giant but solely funded by them.

Its support includes energy debt relief grants, emergency small energy grants and a network of 45 funded money and energy advice projects.

Who’s eligible for British Gas’ new grant?

Any British Gas or Scottish Gas energy customer who is struggling to pay their energy bill and has sought money and energy advice is eligible to apply for a grant.

Who has already received a grant from British Gas?  

More than 21,000 grants have been given out since 2021 with over a third of households receiving it on disability benefit, around a third being single parents, and third with children under 5 years old.

Who’s eligible for help from the British Gas Energy Trust?

All households in England, Wales and Scotland can apply for help from the British Gas Energy Trust, regardless of who your supplier is. Visit www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk for details of what help is available to you.

Avatar of Caroline Chell

Caroline Chell

Caroline has worked in financial communications for more than 10 years, writing content on subjects such as pensions, mortgages, loans and credit cards, as well as stockbroking and investment advice.

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