As of June 30, 2023, the Energy Price Guarantee has been discontinued and replaced by the Ofgem price cap. Consequently, households can expect to pay an average annual energy bill of approximately £2,100. In addition, the support provided by the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme ended in April 2023 but was extended until June 30 for customers with prepayment meters. This means that households will need to budget for higher energy costs and may not have the same level of discretionary income as before.
Cost of Living Support
In response to the high cost of energy this winter, the UK Government has implemented several temporary measures to assist households. Some of these initiatives have already been implemented and provided financial relief.
For more information on the help announced visit www.gov.uk/helpforhouseholds.
Universal Support – Energy Bill Support Scheme
The Energy Bills Support Scheme has now ended. However, the UK Government continues to provide a range of partially targeted Cost of Living Support payments to help mitigate the impacts of higher energy costs on households.
Discretionary Hardship Support
- Local authorities across England are issuing support through their Household Support Funds this has been extended to the end of March 2023. Reach out to your local government authority to inquire about potential assistance options that may be accessible in your area.
- Find your local authority at www.gov.uk/find-local-council
The Welsh Government is still offering supplemental crisis assistance through its programs:
- An expanded £200 Welsh Fuel Support Scheme payment to help towards energy bills, regardless of how households pay for their energy and whether they use on-grid or off-grid fuels. To be eligible for the program, households were required to apply through their local council within the timeframe of September 26, 2022 and February 28, 2023.
- A Wales-wide Fuel Voucher Scheme is still available. To provide assistance to households facing energy crises and prepay for their energy, the program is conducted in collaboration with the Fuel Bank Foundation. Those interested can contact Advicelink Cymru at 0800 702 2020 for further information.
- Households in financial hardship can continue to apply for emergency assistance payments under the Welsh Government’s Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF). This involves assistance with topping up prepayment meters for gas, electricity, oil, and LPG.
- Visit gov.wales/discretionary-assistance-fund-daf for more details.
Cost-of-living support in 2023-24
The Government has announced cost-of-living payments to be issued across 2023-2024:
- Low-income cost of living payment will be £900 paid to those on means-tested benefits. The payments will be distributed in three separate increments. In Spring 2023, £301 will be paid, followed by £300 in Autumn 2023, and a final payment of £299 will be made in Spring 2024.
- Pensioner cost of living payment will be £300 to be paid in the Winter 2023/24, this will be paid to those in receipt of Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) and likely to be paid with the WFP or around the same time.
- Disability cost of living payment will be £150 for those in receipt of a non-means tested disability benefit. The payment is expected to be made during the summer of 2023.