Could you get more help with your energy bills?

If you’re struggling to keep up with your energy bills, you could be in line for more help this winter.

The government is reportedly considering extra support for households on lower incomes, as energy bills are expected to rise sharply in January.

Typical annual energy bills are predicted to increase by £276 to £1,999, which could put even more pressure on your household budget.

According to reports, the chancellor John Healey is working on plans to spend more than £1bn helping households with their energy costs. Most of this could go towards increasing the warm home discount for people receiving certain benefits.

What's the warm home discount?

The warm home discount is a one-off £150 credit that can help you with your winter energy bills.

To qualify, you or your partner must be named on your electricity bill. You also need to receive one of the following benefits:

• universal credit
• pension credit
• income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
• housing benefit

Healey is reportedly considering increasing the discount by a further £100, taking it to £250.

Unlike the existing discount, which is funded through energy bills, the proposed increase would be paid for by taxpayers.

What could this mean for you?

If the government goes ahead with the proposal, the bill discount could form part of the upcoming budget, which is expected to focus heavily on the cost of living.

Rather than simply paying part of your bill, the proposed changes could affect how much energy companies are allowed to charge their customers.

And this may not be the only change you see.

The energy department is reportedly looking at more radical reforms that could be introduced after the budget. These include ways of reducing energy costs for households on lower incomes or for people who use less energy.

Could you pay less for essential energy?

One proposal is a social tariff, which would mean you could pay less for each unit of electricity you use if you have a lower income.

Another idea is a rising block tariff.

Under this system, you would pay less for a certain amount of essential energy use. Once your household went above that level, you would pay more for additional energy.

There is also a proposal from energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh to reduce bills for everyone by as much as £120 by removing certain energy levies.

It's not yet clear which, if any, of these proposals will go ahead.

Worried about paying your energy bills?

If you're struggling to keep up with your payments, don't ignore the problem. Getting help early could make it much easier for you to get back on track.

Your energy supplier should work with you if you're having difficulty paying. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to get:

• an affordable payment plan
• temporary breathing space from your arrears
• access to a hardship fund
• other financial support

You should also check whether you're entitled to extra financial help, such as universal credit, pension credit or the warm home discount.

Our free benefits calculator can help you see what you could claim.

Could you cut your energy use?

There are also some simple things you can do around your home to reduce your energy use.

For example, you could:

• turn appliances off rather than leaving them on standby
• only heat the rooms you're using
• check whether your heating controls are set up efficiently
• look for other ways to reduce the amount of energy you use

Small changes can add up over time and could help you keep your bills under control.

Could you get a grant to clear your energy debt?

If you've fallen behind with your energy bills, you may be able to get a grant to help clear what you owe.

You don't necessarily have to pay the money back.

Energy supplier grants

Many energy companies offer hardship funds or grants for customers who are struggling financially.

If you're in energy debt, it's worth contacting your supplier to find out whether you could get help.

Grants from charities

You could also get help from a charitable trust or other organisation.

Some charities offer grants to people experiencing financial hardship, while others are specifically for people who have worked in certain professions or have particular health conditions.

Don't struggle alone

If rising energy costs are putting pressure on your finances, you don't have to deal with it on your own.

We help people find ways to manage rising costs, deal with debt and make their budgets easier to handle. Getting help early can stop money worries building into a bigger problem later on.