Useful information about all support available can be found on the Government’s website.
Cost of Living Payments from Spring 2023
Millions of the lowest-income households across the UK will get up to £1,350 from the Government in 2023/4 to help with the cost of living. Find out more.
Energy Price Guarantee
The Energy Price Guarantee will reduce the unit cost of electricity and gas so that a typical household in Great Britain pays, on average, around £2,500 a year on their energy bill, for the next 2 years, from 1 October 2022.
The consumer saving will be based on usage, but on average usage a household will save £1,000 a year (based on current prices from October). Energy suppliers will be fully compensated by the government for the savings delivered to households.
£150 of this £1,000 a year saving will be delivered by temporarily suspending environmental and social costs (including green levies) from being passed onto consumer bills. These costs will be transferred to the government, while customers still benefit from the low-carbon electricity generation. Payment of the Warm Home Discount will be unaffected.
The most vulnerable UK households will also continue to receive £1,200 of support provided in instalments over the year, through discounts to Council Tax and Cost of Living payments for those in receipt of certain benefits.
Households who are unable to benefit from the full extent of the Energy Bills Support Scheme and/or Energy Price Guarantee scheme (for example, households not on standard gas / electricity contracts) will receive equivalent support. Further detail on this is below.
How the new Energy Price Guarantee will be applied to energy bills in Great Britain
The Energy Price Guarantee limits the amount you can be charged per unit of gas or electricity, so your exact bill amount will continue to be influenced by how much energy you use.
You do not need to apply, and there’s no need to contact your energy supplier.
Household Support Fund
The Household Support Fund has recently doubled to £1 billion to help support pensioners and families with the rising cost of living.
This support is provided by your local Council who will ensure those vulnerable and most in need receive vital support to meet essential household costs.
You can find what help is available in your area by contacting your local Council.
VAT relief for energy saving materials
If you’re looking to install energy saving materials such as insulation or solar panels, then you won’t have to pay any VAT for the next five years. This will help households improve energy efficiency while keeping heating bills down.
Government support for the cost of living
Heat the human
With energy prices soaring, Martin Lewis recently investigated the cheapest ways to keep yourself warm. You can now check how much it will cost you to keep warm, from hot water bottles to electric blankets.
Find out more on Heat the human.
Financial support if you use an oxygen concentrator:
If you use an oxygen concentrator at home, you can get money back for the electricity it uses. The company that supplies your concentrator can make payments to your bank account. Contact them to find out how to claim.
Contact:
