Millions of people still awaiting financial help to heat their homes are due to start receiving financial help from the government. From February 7 households across the UK who don’t use mains gas for heating will start receiving £200 towards their energy bills as the Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) scheme launches.
Most will get the £200 AFP automatically as a credit on their electricity bill but some customers will need to apply for the support later this month. Nearly two million households who use alternative energy sources such as heating oil, biomass and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to warm their homes will receive the support.
These groups were due to receive a £100 lump sum from the UK government after it pledged to match the support given to customers connected to mains gas, who are receiving £400 off their energy bills over six months. This was later doubled to £200.
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Mains-gas customers received their first monthly payment or discount in October - the scheme is being applied differently depending on your energy supplier and how you pay your bills - and you can find out more about that here. But despite that scheme running for several months already, customers using alternative methods or living off-grid are only now starting to receive the payment.
The vast majority, including many homes in rural areas, will get it automatically through their electricity supplier as a credit on their bill throughout February. A small minority of customers, such as those living in park homes or on static houseboats with no direct energy supplier, will need to apply to receive the payment through an online portal that will launch later this month.
Minister for Energy and Climate Graham Stuart said: "Our main energy bill support schemes have seen millions of homes and businesses across the country get much needed help to cover costs, with figures today showing nearly £3 billion in government support has been paid out to business to date. Now we’re getting support to those remaining few that are off the gas grid and most difficult to reach.
"I am determined to see households and businesses of all stripes protected from global pressures this winter – whether that’s those living in a houseboat, park home or operating a rural hospital or school.
"That’s why we are kicking off payments of £200 to households using alternative fuel to heat their homes today - while businesses and organisations using alternative fuels will receive a boost of £150 in the coming weeks."
Meanwhile from Wednesday, February 8, energy suppliers will also be able to start making payments to businesses and both public and voluntary sector organisations that use alternative fuels to heat their buildings. A credit of £150 will be provided to eligible customers across the UK through the Non-Domestic Alternative Fuel Payment scheme (ND-AFP). Suppliers will deliver this support up to 10 March, with most customers expected to receive it later this month. There is no need to contact your supplier.
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