Information checked 24 September 2026. This guide covers household gas and electricity bills in England, Scotland and Wales. Grant criteria and application dates can change.
The short answer: If you are in energy arrears, ask your supplier for an affordable repayment plan and details of its hardship support. Some households may qualify for a grant to reduce or clear eligible debt. Applying for a grant does not guarantee an award, so agree what happens to your payments while the application is considered.
What should you do first if you are behind with energy bills?
Get in touch with the supplier named on your current bill as soon as you realise you cannot pay. Tell it what you can afford after essential household costs. Ask for a breakdown showing the cost of the energy you use now and any extra amount being collected towards older debt.
According to Ofgem’s guidance on help with energy bills, you can ask your supplier about a payment plan, a payment break or reduction, a review of your payments and debt repayments, and access to financial support such as a hardship fund. Explain any health condition, disability or other circumstances affecting your household.
Do not assume the arrears figure is correct without checking the bill. Look at the meter readings, billing dates, unit rates, standing charges, previous payments and any adjustments. If your Direct Debit has risen sharply, work through our seven checks for a high energy bill or Direct Debit before agreeing to a new amount.
If you cannot top up a prepayment meter: Tell your supplier immediately that you cannot afford the energy you need. Ask what emergency or additional support it can offer and explain if anyone in your home has a medical need for electricity or needs extra help.
Where can you find a grant to pay energy arrears?
1. Your energy supplier’s hardship fund
Ask your supplier whether it has a hardship fund, energy debt grant or other support scheme. Find out whether the scheme covers existing arrears, who can apply, what evidence is needed and whether applications are currently open. Some funds require applicants to get money advice first.
If you have both gas and electricity accounts, tell the supplier which account shows the debt. If you use a prepayment meter, ask specifically whether support is available for debt being recovered through that meter. The criteria vary between schemes.
2. British Gas Energy Trust
The British Gas Energy Trust grants page sets out its current funds and eligibility rules. Depending on the fund, support may be available to eligible British Gas customers and customers of other energy suppliers in England, Scotland and Wales.
When this article was checked on 24 September 2026, the Trust stated that its Individuals and Families Fund would open on 1 October 2026. Its published conditions include qualifying debt on a current energy account in your name and recent money advice or guidance. Customers of certain suppliers must first apply to their own supplier’s support fund. Check the live application page before you begin: opening dates, debt limits and criteria may change.
3. Local help and advice
Your local council or an advice organisation may be able to identify help available where you live. If you cannot afford a prepayment top-up, ask whether a fuel voucher or other emergency assistance is available. Citizens Advice has guidance on help paying energy bills, and you can find your local council here.
If energy arrears are one of several debts, free debt advice can help you assess what you can afford and which bills need urgent attention. MoneyHelper explains where to get free debt help.
While you wait for a grant decision: Keep speaking to your supplier about your current energy use and arrears. An application does not automatically pause bills or guarantee that your debt will be cleared.
What do you need to apply for an energy debt grant?
Read the fund’s instructions before gathering documents. You may be asked for:
- Your current energy account number, recent bill and amount owed.
- Up-to-date meter readings, particularly if the balance is disputed or estimated.
- Details of household income, benefits and essential outgoings.
- Information about any payment arrangement already offered by your supplier.
- Evidence of recent money or debt advice, if the fund requires it.
- Evidence that you applied to your supplier’s fund first, if another fund requires this.
Check whether a grant is available for your current account. For example, some funds will not consider debt on a closed account after you have moved or switched supplier. Use the fund’s official application page so that you see its latest rules.
A message you can send your supplier:
“I am behind with my energy payments and cannot afford the current repayment amount. Please confirm how much of my bill covers current energy use and how much goes towards arrears. I would like an affordable payment plan and details of any hardship fund or grant I may qualify for. Please respond in writing.”
What other help could reduce your energy costs?
An energy debt grant is only one possible source of help. These checks may reduce future bills or uncover support you have missed:
Check the Warm Home Discount
The Warm Home Discount for winter 2026/27 is a one-off £150 discount for eligible households, usually applied to an electricity bill. It is different from an energy debt grant and is not cash paid into your bank account. GOV.UK says the scheme will reopen in October 2026. The route to receiving it differs in Scotland, where some eligible households may need to apply through their supplier. Read our Warm Home Discount 2026/27 guide for the checks to make now.
Check your rates and Direct Debit
If your bill has risen, ask whether the increase comes from greater energy use, a change in unit rates or standing charges, estimated readings, or repayments towards existing debt. The headline energy price cap figure is based on typical use; it is not a cap on an individual household’s total bill. Our energy price cap guide explains what to compare on your own bill.
Check whether you have account credit
If your online account shows a credit balance as well as an arrears warning, ask the supplier to explain the balance for each fuel, the date of your latest bill and any unpaid charges. An apparent credit may change when actual meter readings are applied. Our guide to energy account credit refunds explains how to check the balance and ask for money back where appropriate.
Plan for future heating costs
Reducing energy use will not erase debt you already owe, but it may help stop new arrears building up. Choices about heating depend on your home, the rooms you use and the need to stay safely warm. See our guide to heating one room or the whole home before changing how you heat your space.
What if your energy debt looks wrong?
Ask your supplier for a clear account statement and check each meter reading and payment against your records. If a reading is estimated, submit an accurate one. Ask it to explain any adjustment you do not recognise. Keep photographs of meter readings and copies of bills and messages.
If the supplier cannot resolve the problem, make a formal complaint. Ofgem explains how to complain about an energy supplier and when you may be able to take an unresolved complaint to the Energy Ombudsman.
Energy grants: frequently asked questions
Can a grant clear all my energy debt?
Possibly, but it depends on the fund, your eligibility and the amount you owe. Some grants have debt limits, and being eligible to apply does not guarantee an award. Ask the fund what it could cover and agree a plan with your supplier for any remaining balance.
Can I get a grant if I have a prepayment meter?
Some funds accept applications from eligible prepayment customers with energy debt. Check the specific scheme’s criteria and tell your supplier if debt deductions leave you unable to afford enough energy now.
Is the Warm Home Discount an energy debt grant?
No. It is a separate £150 bill discount for eligible households in Great Britain. It may help your overall energy costs, but you should still speak to your supplier about arrears and any hardship fund.
What if I use heating oil, LPG, coal or wood?
The supplier debt funds discussed here mainly concern gas and electricity accounts. If you use another fuel, check Citizens Advice’s guidance on help with alternative fuels and ask your local council what support is available.
The MoneyMagpie verdict: Check that the arrears are accurate, contact your supplier early and ask for repayments you can afford. Then check its hardship fund and any other grant for which you qualify. Bill discounts, local help and an accurate account balance can also make a difference.
Sources and review date: Ofgem: help with energy bills; British Gas Energy Trust: grants available; GOV.UK: Warm Home Discount; Citizens Advice: help paying energy bills. Information checked 24 September 2026. This article provides general information; scheme eligibility depends on your circumstances and the current rules.
A very informative article.