A scheme to provide a one-off £100 emergency payment to those severely impacted by the fuel price crisis has gone live from today, Thursday 6 January.
The Department for Communities, in collaboration with Bryson Charitable Group, the Consumer Council and a range of local energy companies, will contribute £2 million to an Emergency Fuel Payment Scheme.
This scheme, which aims to benefit 20,000 families, opened today and will run until 31 March 2022.
Noyona Chundur, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council welcomed the scheme saying:
“We are delighted to have facilitated the establishment of a scheme that will help ease the heavy burden of energy price rises for 20,000 households this winter.
“We welcome the substantial financial support provided by the Department for Communities, the operational expertise provided by Bryson Charitable Group, and the practical and financial support provided by 11 companies from across the energy sector who have pledged over £250k in donations to the scheme.
“We hope this will lead to future collaboration between Government, regulators, consumer advocacy bodies, and the energy sector on initiatives to tackle the causes of fuel poverty.”
To be eligible for support you will have to either:
• A total gross annual household income of less than £23,000 (Do not include Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Carer's Allowance or Attendance Allowance in this calculation).
• Been made unemployed in the last 8 weeks and are awaiting confirmation of benefit / first benefit payment.
• Had benefits payments recently interrupted.
An applicant will also have to meet one of the following criteria too:
• Run out of their chosen energy type. (for pay-as-you-go electricity/gas, or oil customers)
• 3-5 days or less worth or less of your chosen energy type (for pay-as-you-go electricity/gas, or oil customers).
• Received an electricity/gas bill within the last 5 days and I cannot afford to pay it.
• Are due to receive an electricity/gas bill within the next 5 days and I cannot afford to pay it
For more information and to apply, please visit: