HOUSEHOLDS are being urged to check if they can apply for £500 of free cost of living funds as energy bills are set to rise in weeks.
Energy bills are set to climb to £1,737 next month, but thousands of households could be saved by this cash boost available.
GettyFamilies can get a boost of £500 and those without children can get £300[/caption]
GettyEnergy prices are set to rise in coming weeks around the UK[/caption]
EPAThis scheme homes to ease pressure on families struggling to pay their bills[/caption]
There is a scheme being run by the charity Act on Energy in the West Midlands, which hopes to ease pressure on families struggling to pay their bills.
The payment scheme is designed to provide support for families with children under 18, or young adults as old as 21 who are in full-time education.
There are some other requirements for applicants to be successful in receiving the money.
Funding is also limited, so the scheme is on a first-come-first serve basis, and closes at the end of September.
Whilst families can get the one-off boost of £500, there is £300 available for singles or couples.
Depending on how you pay for energy bills, the funds can be sent either directly an energy supplier or provided as pre-payment energy vouchers for those who use key or card meters.
The scheme is only available to those living in areas of the West Midlands, including Stratford-upon-Avon.
Applicants must also meet the income and vulnerability criteria, by providing proof of income and savings.
Criteria to qualify for the payment
In order to qualify for the one-off payment, households must have a gross income of £31,000 per year or less.
Proof of this income must be provided, which could be through a recent award notice within the last three months for those on means-tested benefits, or three bank statements for households not receiving benefits.
Evidence of vulnerability must also be provided, such as:
Long-term health conditions like COPD
Unmanageable debt
Pregnancy or children under five
Disability with receipt of DLA or PIP
Eligibility for benefits-related free school meals
Other vulnerabilities are considered at the discretion of Act on Energy
There are also savings limits, which is zero household savings for energy payment applications, and up to £6,000 in aggregate for homeowners receiving Physical Intervention support.
“Vulnerability” is broadly defined, according to Act on Energy.
Households who are unsure whether they qualify are encouraged to get in contact with the charity to clarify.
How to apply
Applications are submitted online through the Act on Energy website, which provides guidance on the documentation they require.
The Warwickshire Household Support Fund provides extra assistance to households experiencing additional challenges.
This includes assistance with heating, energy costs, and repairs.
Residents that are eligible can also apply for funding to fix or replace broken boilers and heating systems if they have owned the property for at least 12 months and it is not currently on the market.
The same rules apply to households under shared ownership that are eligible.
Other similar support may also be available in areas across the UK through local Household Support Funds, so Brits are encouraged to look out for these kinds of boosts.
If you don’t live in Warwickshire, Stratford-upon-Avon, Rugby, Nuneaton and Bedworth, or North Warwickshire, there are still several councils offering grants on bills and essential costs.
Help with energy bills
If you are struggling with your energy bills, there are several ways you can get support.
For example, the Winter Fuel Allowance offers £300 to pensioners to help cover the cost of their heating during colder months.
Around 75% of pensioners are expected to receive the support this year, after Labour’s U-turned on the tighter eligibility criteria it announced last winter.
Struggling families can get access to money for their energy bills through the Household Support Fund (HSF).
Each council in England has been allocated a share of the £742million fund and can distribute it to residents in need.
Exactly how much you can get and how the money will be paid depends on your council and situation.
The scheme has been extended multiple times with the latest round running between April 2025 and March 2026.
Meanwhile, thousands of households will receive the Warm Home Discount, which is worth £150.
The discount is means tested and is given to households on a low-income or claiming certain benefits, such as Universal Credit.
If you are falling behind on your energy bill then may also be able to get help from your energy supplier.
British Gas has announced a £140million support package to help customers facing financial hardship.
This includes free energy grants, tailored support for households and small business customers and funding for advice centres and charities.
It has also launched You Pay: We Pay, which gives households the opportunity to have their payments matched by British Gas for a period of six months.
Elsewhere, Octopus Energy’s £30million Octo Assist fund is designed to help customers keep on top of their energy bills.
It includes free electric blankets, Winter Fuel Payments and standing charge waivers.
How do I calculate my energy bill?
BELOW we reveal how you can calculate your own energy bill.
To calculate how much you pay for your energy bill, you must find out your unit rate for gas and electricity and the standing charge for each fuel type.
The unit rate will usually be shown on your bill in p/kWh.The standing charge is a daily charge that is paid 365 days of the year – irrespective of whether or not you use any gas or electricity.
You will then need to note down your own annual energy usage from a previous bill.
Once you have these details, you can work out your gas and electricity costs separately.
Multiply your usage in kWh by the unit rate cost in p/kWh for the corresponding fuel type – this will give you your usage costs.
You’ll then need to multiply each standing charge by 365 and add this figure to the totals for your usage – this will then give you your annual costs.
Divide this figure by 12, and you’ll be able to determine how much you should expect to pay each month from April 1.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
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