Bucks households urged not to miss out on energy bill discounts

Eligible households in Bucks that have not yet received the £400 non-repayable energy bill payment from the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) need to act fast before the deadline of 31 May 2023.

You may be eligible to apply for this £400 payment if your main home is:

• A residential park home
• Off the mains electricity or gas grid
• On a permanent Gypsy and Traveller site
• Temporary or supported accommodation
• On a boat on a permanent residential mooring
• Part of a heat network without an electricity meter
• In a separate domestic home within a non-domestic property (such as a farmhouse or a flat above a shop)
• In a care home or assisted living facility and you pay for some or all of your care (directly or through loss of pension or other benefits)
• Housing association, rented or leasehold home whose energy is supplied by the landlord through a commercial or communal connection

In addition to the £400 payment, eligible households that don’t have access to the mains gas grid and use alternative fuels as their main form of heating can also receive a one-off £200 payment.

You may eligible for this payment if the main way you heat your home is by using:

• Oil
• Wood
• Solid fuel
• Tank or bottled gas
• Liquid petroleum gas (LPG)

This £200 payment is on top of the £400 from their electricity supplier – making it a total of up to £600 in savings.

“We want to make sure that all eligible households are aware of this opportunity and take advantage of it before the 31 May deadline,” said John Chilver, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Accessible Housing & Resources. “The £400 non-repayable energy bill payment and £200 alternative fuels payment can go a long way in helping households with their heating and energy bills. So, if you believe you’re eligible for these payments, please apply now.”

To check if you’re eligible and able to apply for the payments, visit the council’s Energy Bills Support Scheme webpage.

As part of your application, you’ll need to provide an email address or phone number (if you have one), and your bank account details (a UK current account in your name). If you’re not registered for Council Tax, then you’ll also need to upload proof of address, such as a full, current UK driving licence or tenancy agreement.

About the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS)

The Energy Bills Support Scheme is a government initiative that provides financial assistance to eligible households struggling with their energy bills. The scheme aims to alleviate the burden of high energy costs and help households stay warm and comfortable.

About the Alternative Fuels Payment (AFP)

The Alternative Fuels Payment is a government initiative that provides financial assistance to households that are not connected to the mains gas grid or use alternative fuels as their main form of heating.