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Tomato Energy customers - read our advice about what to do if your energy supplier goes bust.

Grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills

This advice applies to Scotland. See advice for See advice for England, See advice for Northern Ireland, See advice for Wales

You might be able to get help if you’re struggling to afford your energy bills or top up your prepayment meter. The help you get depends on:

  • how you pay for your energy

  • the type of energy you use

  • if you claim benefits

If you’re worried about your bills rising due to the energy crisis

The energy price cap set for 1 April to 30 June will protect you against the impact of the war in the Middle East on energy prices. The government will announce the next energy price cap in late May. We’ll update this page when we know the new price.

If you’re not on a fixed tariff, your rate usually goes up and down with the price of energy. The energy price cap limits the maximum daily standing charge and the price of each unit of energy you use. The price of your energy will come down on 1 April, when the latest price cap is introduced.

If you’re on a fixed tariff, the price of each unit of energy you use will go down from 1 April. This is because the government removed some costs from energy bills. Your energy supplier will lower your energy price automatically - you don’t need to do anything.

If you’re struggling with money, you can get help. Find out more about getting help with your bills.

Check if something is an energy scam

Some scammers are pretending to be from energy companies or government departments like the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

For example, you might get a text asking you to apply for a ‘heating allowance’ or Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.

Scammers do this to get your personal information.

If you think something might be a scam: 

  • don’t give out any personal information or bank details

  • don’t use any contact details they’ve sent you or click any links

You can check if something is a scam.

Check if you can get a fuel voucher

If you can't afford to top up your prepayment meter, you might be able to get a fuel voucher.

You'll get the voucher as a code in a letter, text message or email.

You can use it to add credit to your gas card or electricity key. If you don't have one of these, contact your supplier to get one.

Your local council might be able to help you get a fuel voucher - find your local council on mygov.scot. If you’re still not sure if you can get a voucher, get help from an adviser.

You can use a fuel voucher at:

To use your voucher you’ll need to take:

  • the code and instructions

  • some form of ID - for example, your passport or a bill with your name and address

If you have a smart prepayment meter you can also add the fuel voucher credit to your account online. To do this, follow the instructions on your voucher.

Check your fuel voucher to see when it expires. You might have to use it within 15 days.

If you have problems using your voucher, contact the organisation that gave it to you - you should be able to find their contact information on the instructions.

Check if you can get a Warm Home Discount

If you get benefits, you might be able to get £150 off your electricity bill or £150 added to your prepayment meter through the Warm Home Discount scheme.

To get the discount, you or your partner will usually need to be on the electricity bill. If the bill is in the name of someone who’s legally allowed to act on your behalf, you can still qualify.

In Scotland, some people get the discount automatically and some people need to apply to their supplier. Whether you need to apply depends on whether you’re in the:

  • core group - you do not need to apply. You’ll be told if you’re in the core group and you’ll get the discount automatically

  • broader group - you need to apply to your supplier.

You can only get the discount if your electricity supplier is part of the scheme. You can check if your supplier offers the Warm Home Discount on GOV.UK.

Check if you’ll get the Warm Home Discount automatically

You’ll get the Warm Home Discount automatically if you’re in the core group.

You’re in the core group if you get Pension Credit. You might also be in the core group if you get another benefit and meet certain extra rules.

The other benefits are:

  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

  • Income Support

  • Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)

  • Universal Credit.

If you get one of these benefits, you might get the Warm Home Discount automatically if you:

  • are responsible for a child under 5 who normally lives with you

  • get a child disability element

  • have limited capability for work or work-related activity

  • get a pensioner or disability premium.

If you need help to check if you’ll be in the core group, talk to an adviser.

You do not need to apply if you’re in the core group. Your supplier should automatically apply the discount to your electricity bill. You can ask for it to be applied to your gas bill instead if the same supplier provides both your electricity and your gas.

Check if you can apply for the Warm Home Discount

If you don’t get the Warm Home Discount automatically, you might be able to apply for it if you’re in the broader group. The broader group is for some low-income households in Scotland. Each supplier sets its own rules about who’s eligible, but they must include people who get:

  • Adult Disability Payment

  • Housing Benefit

  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

  • Income Support

  • Pension Age Disability Payment

  • Universal Credit.

You can contact your supplier to check if you’re in their broader group.

You should usually apply as soon as your supplier opens applications. You can check if your supplier has opened applications for the Warm Home Discount on the Changeworks website.

If your supplier changes

If you switch supplier after the date your eligibility is checked, you might still get the discount from the supplier you were with on that date.

If you applied through the broader group, switching supplier could affect your application. Check with your supplier before you switch.

If your supplier stops trading, Ofgem will appoint a new supplier. Check with your new supplier to see if you can still get the discount.

If you live in a park home or mobile home

If you live in a park home or mobile home, you usually apply in a different way. You can find guidance about the Park Homes Warm Home Discount on GOV.UK.

If you have an electricity account in your own name with an energy supplier, you might be able to get the Warm Home Discount through the Scottish scheme instead. Check with your energy supplier before you apply.

If you didn’t get your Warm Home Discount

Most people should receive their Warm Home Discount by 31 March.

If you’ve been told you’re in the core group but didn’t get the discount, you should contact your electricity supplier. If they cannot sort it out, ask them about their missed payments process or complaints process.

If you use oil, liquified petroleum gas (LPG), coal or wood to heat your home

If you can’t afford to buy fuel, you might be able to get help. You might be eligible if you:

  • use oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), coal or wood as your main source of heating

  • aren’t connected to mains gas

Get help if you use oil, LPG, coal or wood to heat your home.

Check if you can sign up to the Priority Services Register

You can get extra help from your gas and electricity supplier by signing up to the Priority Services Register. For example, if you're on the Register your energy supplier might:

  • make your call a priority when you contact them

  • give their engineers a password if they visit or contact you - so you know they’re genuine

  • move your prepayment meter if you struggle to get to it

You can sign up if you're either:

  • of State Pension age

  • disabled or have a long-term health condition

  • considered ‘vulnerable’ by your energy network

You might not consider yourself vulnerable, but if you meet the criteria you could get extra help. Your energy network might also consider you vulnerable if you:

  • don't speak or read English well

  • have children under 5 years old or are pregnant

  • have no sense of smell or would struggle to smell gas

Check how to sign up to the Priority Services Register.

If you’re disabled or have a long-term health condition

You can complain if you’re behind with your energy bills because your supplier didn’t make a reasonable adjustment when you asked. 

You might have asked your supplier for:

  • your bill to be sent in a format that works for you, for example, in easy read format or Braille

  • someone to come and read your meter, so your bills are accurate and not estimated

If your supplier didn't make reasonable adjustments you asked for, it might be discrimination. If you’ve been discriminated against it can strengthen your complaint. Check if your energy supplier discriminated against you.

Grants to help pay off energy debt

If you’re in debt to your energy supplier, you might be able to get a grant to help pay it off.

The following energy suppliers offer grants to their customers:

If your supplier isn’t listed, it’s a good idea to contact them directly to see what extra support they can give you.

If you can’t get a grant from your supplier, you might be able to get a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust. These grants are available to anyone - you don’t have to be a British Gas customer.

You'll need to get debt advice before applying. Find support on the Money Talk Team website. 

If you've already spoken to a debt adviser - check if you can get a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust.

Before you apply

When you apply for a grant, you'll have to provide detailed information about your financial situation in your application. It could take a while to complete, and it might be worth getting help from a friend or family member.

You can get help with the application from a Citizens Advice Bureau.

Find your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

It’s worth checking on the trust or fund website if there’s anything else you need to do before you apply.

For example, if your supplier is E.ON Next or EDF you’ll need to show you’ve completed a budget sheet with a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) approved adviser. To do this:

  1. Find an adviser using the debt advice locator on the Money Helper website

  2. Check if the adviser or their firm is on the FCA register

  3. Contact the adviser to arrange a conversation where you’ll complete a budget sheet

You can get ready for your conversation by using the Budget Planner on the Money Helper website.

Help to make your home more energy efficient

You might be able to make your home more energy efficient to help reduce your fuel costs. Find out more about funding for energy efficiency in homes.

Local energy grants

You might be able to find grants or schemes run by your local council. You can try searching on your local council’s website for energy grants. Find your local council's website on GOV.UK.

Winter Heating Payment

Winter Heating Payment has replaced the Cold Weather Payment in Scotland. It's paid once a year to help with energy bills in winter.

In winter 2026-2027, the payment is £62.00. In winter 2025-2026, the payment was £59.75.

If you're eligible, Social Security Scotland will send you a letter before you get the payment.

You might get a Winter Heating Payment if you get:

  • Pension Credit

  • Income Support

  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance

  • Universal Credit

  • Support for Mortgage Interest.

You won't need to apply for Winter Heating Payment. You'll get it automatically if you're eligible.

Find out more about Winter Heating Payment on mygov.scot.

Child Winter Heating Payment

Child Winter Heating Payment is a payment of £265.50. It's paid once a year.

It's paid to parents and carers to help with household costs for disabled children and young people under 19.

You'll get Child Winter Heating Payment if you have a child or young person in the household who gets 1 of the following benefits in the qualifying week:

  • the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance for children

  • the highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment

  • the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment

  • the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment.

The qualifying week is the third week in September.

The payment does not have to be used to pay heating costs.

Read more about Child Winter Heating Payment.

Pension Age Winter Heating Payment

Pension Age Winter Heating Payment is a payment of between £105.55 and £316.70. 

It’s paid once a year to older people that have reached State Pension age to help you pay for heating during the winter.

You don't normally need to apply for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. You’ll usually get it automatically if you’re eligible.

Read more about Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.

If you use an oxygen concentrator

If you use an oxygen concentrator for a disability or health condition, you can get money back for the electricity it uses. This is called a ‘rebate’.

To apply for the rebate, ask the person who installs your concentrator or contact the company that supplies it.

You should get the rebate every 3 months. If you need it more often, ask the company that supplies your concentrator if they can help.

If your rebate hasn't been set up, you can contact Vivisol Home Care on their website.

If you’re struggling with living costs

If you’re struggling with money, there are things you can do to save on your regular living costs. Check what to do if you need help with living costs.

If you’re finding it hard to pay your bills, you can get help. Find out more about getting help with your bills.

You can also get help with debts.

If you're struggling to pay for food, find out how to get help from a food bank.

If you need a warm, welcoming space

‘Warm welcome’ spaces are public places that anyone can use - for example a community space like a library. They’re free, warm, welcoming and safe.

You can ask your local council about warm welcome spaces near you. You can find your local council on mygov.scot.

Some spaces are only open in winter and some are open all year. Each space is different, but they might offer things like:

  • hot food and drink

  • activities and the chance to learn new things

  • a place to meet people in your community

  • access to the internet and help to use a computer

If you’re finding things difficult

Your mental health is as important as your physical health. You should talk to your GP if your money problems are affecting your mental health.

You can also get help on the Breathing Space website.

Samaritans

If you need to speak to someone right now, you can call the Samaritans for free.

Helpline: 116 123 (Monday to Sunday at any time)

Welsh Language Line: 0808 164 0123 (Monday to Sunday 7pm to 11pm)

Shout

You can also text 'SHOUT' to 85258 to start a conversation with a trained Shout 85258 volunteer. Texts are free, anonymous and confidential from anywhere in the UK.

If you think it's an emergency

If you think your life or someone else’s is at risk, you should call 999 or go to A&E if you can.

If you need support, you can call NHS 24 on 111. The Mental Health Hub is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Further help

If you're deaf or hard of hearing, you can get help with energy issues from Deaf Action's Bright Deal service. It can give you advice in BSL, either online, on a video call or by arranging a home visit. Find out more on Deaf Action's website.

Contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau if you need more help. A trained adviser can give you advice over the phone or by email.