Housing & energy grants

The main energy grants & freebies

Energy is one of the main grant-giving areas, as substantial Government funding is available to help those struggling to heat their home, particularly right now due to record energy prices. We've a summary of the help available, with full info on each of the schemes below...

1. £150 towards energy bills in winter with the warm home discount

   

   The Warm Home Discount scheme is available to millions of households in the UK. It requires suppliers with more than 50,000 customers to help vulnerable people pay for their energy over winter.

   If you've a standard credit meter, the money isn't paid to you – it's a £150 rebate applied to your electricity or gas bill between October and March. If you're on a prepay meter, you'll usually be sent a top-up voucher.

   Following changes to how the warm home discount works, the scheme is now different in England and Wales from that in Scotland. In England and Wales, no one needs to apply anymore, it'll be awarded automatically to those on pension credit, and to those on certain benefits who are eligible. In Scotland, some will still need to apply to get it.

   You can check if you're eligible to receive the discount using the Government's new online tool, or see full info on the warm home discount.

   Around 2.7 million more families, including one million with children, could become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount next winter under new plans put forward by the Government to help tackle high energy costs. But the extension is only mooted for winter 2025/26 at this stage.

2. Up to £300 Winter Fuel Payment

   Some UK pensioner households will be entitled to help towards their energy costs under the Government's Winter Fuel Payment scheme. It's between £200 and £300 and is usually paid automatically to eligible pensioners or pensioner households. From winter 2024/25, it'll be restricted to only those receiving Pension Credit or in receipt of certain benefits.

   If eligible, you'll get up to £300, depending on your circumstances:

   Winter fuel payments – how much could you get in 2024/25?

   If between 16 and 22 September 2024 you:	Born between 23 Sep 1944 and 22 Sep 1958	Born on or before 22 Sep 1944
   You live alone (or none of the people you lived qualify).	£200	£300
   You live with a partner under 80 and jointly claim any of the eligible benefits.	£200 - only one of you will get this	£300 - only one of you will get this
   You live with a partner 80 or over and jointly claim any of the eligible benefits.	£300 - only one of you will get this	£300 - only one of you will get this
   You lived in a care home for less than 13 weeks, including the week of 16 to 22 September 2024.	£200	£300

   

3. Cold weather payments of £25 for each sub-zero week

   The cold weather payment is a separate grant paid by the Government to older people and those on certain benefits in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to help cover energy costs when temperatures hit zero and below in your area.
   

   It applies if the average temperature is – or is forecast to be – 0°C or below for seven days in a row between 1 November and 31 March. You get £25 for each seven-day period and it's paid automatically within 14 days of each cold weather period. See our full Cold weather payment guide for more info.

   In Scotland, you'll get the £59 winter heating payment instead

   400,000 low-income households in Scotland will receive £58.75 a year to help towards winter heating costs, whatever the weather. This replaces the cold weather payment for those in Scotland, though eligibility for the schemes are the same. Payments will be made in December 2024 and January 2025. See our Cold weather guide for more details.

4. Household support fund for those who are vulnerable this winter

   Local councils in England have access to additional £421 million (£79 million in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) in funding until April 2026 (the fund was originally set to end in March 2024 but has been extended for a third time), to help vulnerable households under the Household Support Fund. There's no set criteria for eligibility, as it's up to each council to decide, but generally the grant is those in most need of financial help.

   You can contact your council to find out what it offers, whether you're eligible for help, and how to apply.

   There's also a new platform called Lightning Reach that lets you know what grants you might be eligible for, and helps you apply. It'll also point you in the direction of other financial support, such as benefits, you might qualify for too.

The top home help schemes and grants

There's even more help available, depending on your circumstances.

1. Schemes and grants for improving energy efficiency in your home

   There are also loads of freebies and grants on offer from energy providers and local authorities to improve your home's energy efficiency, from boilers grants to loft and cavity wall insulation. It's all part of their energy efficiency obligations to people in certain groups. It's mainly for those receiving specific benefits, such as universal credit, tax credits, pension credit or income-based benefits.

   Free insulation and boiler grants

   Most energy suppliers in the UK are part of what's known as the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, meaning they're required to help improve households' energy efficiency through boiler grants and insulation measures, such as for cavity walls and lofts. £1,000s of grants are up for grabs, but it's only available to people who get certain benefits.
   
   Also as part of the scheme, if you live in a property that's heated by electricity, and you're in receipt of benefits, you might be eligible to replace your old electric heaters and radiators with new, energy efficient electric storage heaters for free.

   To check you're eligible and apply, you'll need to contact your energy supplier, or for full info, see our Free insulation and boiler grants guide.

   Boiler upgrade scheme in Great Britain

   

   If you live in England or Wales and want to replace your existing gas, oil or electric boiler with a heat pump or biomass boiler, you could get £7,500 towards the cost of doing so.

   You should be eligible providing you own the property, though some may need to install insulation before any work is completed on your heating system in order to be eligible (your installer will tell you if you need it).

   You don't need to apply to get the scheme, your chosen installer will apply on your behalf – though make sure you choose an installer certified by the Microgeneration Certification Service (MCS).

   In Scotland, there's a similar scheme, enabling homeowners to apply for a grant of £7,500 (or up to £9,000 for those living in rural and island homes) to install a heat pump, as well as the option to borrow an interest-free loan for extra funding needed. Find out more from Home Energy Scotland.

   Warm Homes: Local Grant in England

   If you're on a low income and have an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating from D to G, you might be eligible for a home upgrade grant. This could include energy efficiency measures such as wall, loft and underfloor insulation, installation of an air source heat pump, solar panels, and smart controls.

   It's only available to certain postcodes in England, and you need to apply through your local council. You can check if you're eligible and if you are, your local council will usually contact you within 10 working days to get more information and arrange a home survey.

   Warmer Homes Scheme Scotland

   In Scotland, you can apply for a grant of up to £7,500 (or £9,000 if you live in a rural or island area) to help fund energy-efficiency home improvements, including central heating, radiators, heating controls, draught-proofing and insulation. You have to have lived in your property for at least 12 months and be in receipt of certain benefits, or over 75 with no working heating system. More info and how to apply from Warmer Homes Scotland.

   The Nest scheme in Wales

   The Welsh Government's 'Nest' scheme provides free advice and support to help people in Wales improve the energy efficiency of their home. It also offers free energy efficiency improvements to help reduce your energy bills, such as insulation, solar panels or heat pumps. You'll need to own or privately rent your home, which has an EPC rating of D or less, as well as be on low income, in receipt of a means-tested benefit AND have a chronic respiratory, circulatory or mental health condition. See full details and eligibility criteria.

   Affordable Warmth Scheme Northern Ireland

   If your annual household income is less than £23,000, you could be eligible for a grant to install a range of improvements, from insulation to heating systems and controls, and even a full conversion from heating oil to gas heating. You can find out more in our Cheap Northern Ireland electricity guide.

2. Help adapting your home if you're disabled

   A disabled facilities grant is available from your council to help towards the cost of adapting your home if you, or someone living in your property, is disabled.

   You can get up to £30,000 in England, up to £36,000 in Wales and up to £25,000 in Northern Ireland. Disabled facilities grants aren't available in Scotland.

   The grant is for work that is essential to help a disabled person live an independent life. Here's an example...

   I had a disabled facilities grant to remove my bath and put in a level-access shower.

   Contact your council's housing or environmental health department and ask it to send you an application form before you start work. If work begins before the council's approved your application, you won't normally get anything. Find more info on the grant on the Gov.uk website, as well as your council's details.

   In Wales, an additional scheme provided by Care and Repair is the Rapid Response Adaptations Programme, which helps with small-scale alterations to your home (such as grab rail instalments). You need to be referred by a health or social services professional, such as an occupational therapist, so speak to your doctor to see if you qualify.

3. Free fire safety check and alarm from your local fire service

   Many local fire stations offer free home fire risk assessments, to check for potential fire risks and give fire safety advice.

   The check will help you plan what to do if a fire starts in your home and you'll usually be given a free smoke alarm if you don't already have one.

   The scheme's open to anyone, but it's aimed at the elderly, families with young children or any homes which may carry a high fire risk.

   The Chief Fire Officers Association has put together a list of what each brigade offers, and you can find out more about the assessments on the Fire Service website. If your local brigade isn't listed, you could ring it to see what it offers.

4. Local handyperson service for small repairs

   Age UK runs a local handyperson service in over 80% of the country. This involves security-checked individuals visiting elderly people's homes (though anyone over 50 can apply) to do small repairs, grab rail instalments and security improvements to doors and windows.

   Charges for handyperson services are set at local levels, so call your local Age UK. Costs are around £5 to £25 per hour dependent on the work being undertaken. For info, call Age UK on 0800 678 1602.

5. Emergency financial support from your local council

   Local councils can provide emergency financial support under the local welfare assistance scheme.

   Support is available for people in short-term crises, for things such as a sudden bereavement, a broken boiler or if you're forced to move out of a rented home.

   However, it's a postcode lottery. Each council can choose whether to offer financial help or not, or who is eligible. For example, some may give furniture or food grants, while others may give cash. Ask your council for more info.

   In Scotland, if you’re on a a low income or getting certain benefits, you may be able to apply for a Crisis Grant (part of the Scottish Welfare Fund) through your local council, to help with food or heating costs.

   The Welsh Government's Discretionary Assistance Fund offers an Emergency Assistance Payment to help pay for essential costs, such as food, gas, electricity, clothing or emergency travel, and the The Individual Assistance Payment to help you or someone you care to buy ‘white goods' or home furniture such as beds, sofas and chairs. You can check if you're eligible and how to apply through the Welsh Government website.

Help from your utility provider if you're struggling to pay your bill

If you're struggling to pay your energy or water bills, the first thing you should do is contact your provider as soon as possible – all firms offer some kind of help if you're starting to fall behind.

Help with your energy bill

There are a range of options suppliers can offer if you are struggling, including full payment plan reviews, affordable debt repayment plans, payment breaks or reductions, all allowing you more time to pay. Similarly, if you're a prepayment customer, your supplier can offer you emergency credit.

Many suppliers also have hardship funds, and you don't necessarily have to be a customer of the supplier to be able to access it. It's is all done on a case-by-case basis, so contact your supplier as soon as you can if you do start to struggle.

For a full rundown of what's available, see our What to do if you're struggling to pay your energy bills guide.

Water suppliers also offer help if you're in arrears