An online portal for a one-off £400 payment to help with energy bills is now open and accepting applications from households across Scotland, England and Wales. The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) had previously only been available for a limited number of households in certain council areas but is now open to all eligible claimants nationwide - several days ahead of the planned launch on February 27.
The 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 portal on GOV.UK offers clear guidance on eligibility, who should apply, who cannot claim and details you need before filling in the short online form.
