Energy Bills Support Scheme - Alternative Funding (EBSS-Alternative Funding)

This scheme is being delivered through domestic electricity suppliers in six instalments from October 2022 to March 2023.

However, there are a number of households who pay for their electricity in a different way and do not have a direct relationship with their supplier, such as those who pay through a commercial intermediary, and so will not receive support through the Energy Bills Support Scheme. The Energy Bills Support Scheme - Alternative Funding (EBSS-Alternative Funding) has been set up to provide the payment to these households.

The EBSS-Alternative Funding is a one-off £400 non-repayable discount to eligible households who have not received the main EBSS payment to help with their energy bills between 1 October 2022 and 31 March 2023, but who are still facing increased energy costs.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) expects eligible households to include those with a commercial landlord or intermediary, such as park home residents and some housing association tenants. The EBSS-Alternative Funding is expected to reach a significant number of vulnerable people, including self-funding residents in care homes.

Provided they can provide sufficient proof of address and are not otherwise ineligible, households eligible for EBSS-Alternative Funding include:

• park home residents
• housing association, social and private tenants, and leaseholders, supplied via a landlord with a commercial meter
• partly and wholly self-funded care home residents
• households in house boats on residential moorings
• households on a private electricity network, for example those supplied by a heat network
• off-grid households
• traveller households on authorised sites
• households who live in a dwelling on business premises that is used wholly or partly for domestic purposes
• households in temporary/supported accommodation

To qualify for a payment, the property must be occupied as the applicant's 'sole or main residence' when the application is made. Empty properties and second homes do not qualify for a payment.

DESNZ is expecting approximately 900,000 households in Great Britain (around 3%) to be eligible for the EBSS-Alternative Funding.

No household will be eligible for both the EBSS payment and the EBSS-Alternative Funding payment.

Individuals will need to make an online application for the EBSS-Alternative Funding via a Gov.UK portal. DESNZ has also set up a call centre to support householders through the application process, and if required, complete the online form on behalf of the household.

Where the application passes DESNZ verification checks it will be sent to us as a residents local council to complete final eligibility checks and if appropriate process the payment.

The application portal is planned to go live on 27 February 2023 with the scheme closing to new applications on 31 May 2023. We are required to ensure that eligible applicants receive payments within 30 working days of receiving the application from DESNZ.

To check who is eligible and to apply visit Gov.uk: Apply for energy bill support if you do not get it automatically.

Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP)

The Government has also announced the Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) which is a £200 support payment for households that use fuels other than gas to heat their homes, such as oil, solid fuel, biomass, or bottled gas. Much of the delivery of this scheme will happen through energy suppliers, with eligible households being paid automatically via their electricity accounts in February. Payments should start on 6 February 2023 and no further action will be required by the household.

As with the EBSS, although automated payments can be made to approximately 90% of eligible households, a small group will need to apply to receive the Alternative Fuel Payment Alternative Fund (AFP Alternative Fund) using the Gov.uk portal.

If you are eligible, but have not received this payment automatically, you can apply at Gov.uk: Apply for alternative fuel bill support if you do not get it automatically.