The UK Government's £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) application portal is now open and accepting applications from eligible households across Scotland, England and Wales.
The one-off, non-repayable lump sum will be delivered by local authorities and aims to provide financial support to around 900,000 households without a direct relationship with a domestic electricity supplier. This includes people who live in park homes, houseboats, off-grid and care homes, or those paying their energy bills as part of an all-inclusive rental agreement with their landlord.
The nationwide rollout launched several days ahead of the expected start date of February 27 and already a few members of the Daily Record Money Saving Scotland Facebook group have confirmed they have successfully completed the short online application form. Once the application has been submitted, your local council will contact you within four weeks to give you an update on its progress.
Some 29 million households across Great Britain are already receiving monthly discounts of £66/£67 through the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS).
The £400 payment portal was due to open last month, but following a pilot launch in a limited number of local council areas it was decided to delay the nationwide rollout until “significant complexities” had been resolved.
Energy and Climate Minister Graham Stuart MP, said last week that the delay was due to "significant complexities" in the delivery process.
He said: “There are significant complexities in delivering a novel scheme with a wide variety of eligible groups with different energy arrangements.
“In addition, the Government must always ensure consumers are protected, public money is well spent, including robust verification and anti-fraud checks, and that local authorities are suitably prepared to deliver the support."
How to apply
You can only apply online through the dedicated portal on GOV.UK here or over the phone by calling 0808 175 3287 - lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Who can claim the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding?
Online applications are scheduled to open on February 27 for households in Scotland, England and Wales who are eligible for the £400 one-off payment to submit their details.
Payments to households that meet the eligibility criteria - including people who get their energy through a commercial contract or who are off-grid - will be made by local authorities in Great Britain.
The UK Government said this is likely to include:
- care home residents
- park home residents
- tenants in certain private and social rented homes
- homes supplied via private wires
- residents of caravans and houseboats on registered sites
- farmers living in domestic farmhouses
- off-grid households
Once households have applied to receive support and their applications have been processed and verified, eligible applicants' details will be shared with local authorities who will deliver the one-off, non-repayable support "this winter".
Applicants will only be able to submit information through the GOV.UK portal when it opens this month and should not contact their local authority directly as they will not be able to offer any more information.
The UK Government also said that 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.
Full guidance can be found on GOV.UK here.
To keep up to date with the latest cost of living news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out daily, Monday to Friday - sign up here.
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