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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Business
Levi Winchester

British Gas reopens hardship fund TODAY with free energy bill help worth up to £1,500

British Gas has reopened its hardship fund for non-customers today (July 1) with grants worth up to £1,500 for struggling households.

The British Gas Energy Trust for Individual and Families closed in the spring but is now accepting applications once again.

To be eligible for help, you need to live in England, Scotland or Wales and be in debt to your energy company (not specific to British Gas).

You must also not have more than £1,000 in savings and have received help from a money advice agency.

The easiest - and the free way - to do this is through a charity.

The main ones who will help you with energy bills are National Energy Action, Home Energy Scotland and Citizens Advice.

Are you worried about affording your energy bills this winter? Let us know: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk

Finally, to get help through British Gas, you must not have received a grant from its Energy Trust within the last two years.

You can see full eligibility criteria and details on how to apply on the British Gas website.

If you have previously applied and been unsuccessful you can re-apply if you’ve had a change in your circumstances.

British Gas runs a separate Energy Support Fund for its customers all-year round.

Through this help, you can apply for a grant worth between £250 to £750.

You have to be in energy debt of at least £250 and not have more than £1,000 in savings.

If you're accepted for a grant through either scheme, the money doesn't need to be paid back.

Other energy firms also run their own hardship funds - so check with your provider to see what help is available to you.

Octopus Energy, Scottish Power and Bulb are among those offering grants to struggling customers.

Energy bills are expected to rise again this year, with households already paying sky-high prices for their gas and electricity.

The Ofgem energy price cap, which sets a limit on the rates a supplier can charge for each unit of gas and electricity you use, rose by 54% on April 1.

For those on default tariffs paying by direct debit, the price cap increased by £693 from £1,277 to £1,971.

Prepayment customers saw a bigger jump, with their price cap going up by £708, from £1,309 to £2,017.

The boss of Ofgem last month warned that the price cap could go up again by hundreds more pounds when it is reviewed in October.

Ofgem chief executive Jonathan Brearley told the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee that in October it will be "in the region of £2,800".

Experts at Cornwall Insights predict the price cap will rise to a higher £2,980 in October, before hitting £3,000 in January.

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