These are the schemes open to homes in England, from the government, councils, energy companies and charities. Put in your postcode to see which of them match your home and household.
Checked against each scheme's official page. Last updated 2 November 2026.
Grant · Whole UK · Family Action (charity)
Usually £200 to £300
A one-off grant for essential household goods such as a cooker, fridge freezer or washing machine.
Who can get it: People aged 66 and over on Universal Credit or Pension Credit who need essential household goods. Other groups are closed until January 2027.
Grant · Whole UK · Family Fund (charity)
Grant items, value not published
Grants for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child, which can include a new cooker, fridge, freezer or washing machine.
Who can get it: Parents or carers on a low income or benefits who are raising a disabled or seriously ill child, and have lived in the UK for 6 months.
Grant · Whole UK · Macmillan Cancer Support (charity)
£350 one-off payment
A one-off £350 payment for extra costs of cancer, such as heating bills, in some council areas.
Who can get it: People with an active cancer diagnosis on a low income who live in one of the council areas on Macmillan's list.
Grant · Whole UK · Royal British Legion (charity)
Amount not published
A quick grant for serving and ex-serving people and their families who cannot afford everyday essentials.
Who can get it: Anyone who has served at least one day in the UK Armed Forces, and their immediate family, who is struggling to pay for essentials.
Grant · Whole UK · SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity
Amount not published
SSAFA caseworkers help forces families with priority debts like gas and electricity and apply to charities for household costs.
Who can get it: Anyone who has had at least one day's pay from the British Armed Forces, including Reserves, and their immediate family.
Grant · England, Wales · Ofgem, for DESNZ
£7,500 off an air source or ground source heat pump (£9,000 if you are off the gas grid and replacing oil or LPG, until 31 March 2027); £2,500 off an air-to-air heat pump; £5,000 off a biomass boiler.
A grant taken off the price when you replace a gas, oil, LPG or electric heating system with a heat pump or biomass boiler. Your installer claims it for you.
Who can get it: Owners of homes or small business buildings in England and Wales, including landlords and second homes, who are replacing fossil fuel or old electric heating. No income test.
Grant · England, Wales, Scotland · British Gas Energy Trust (charity)
Up to £1,700 to clear energy debt
A grant paid to your energy supplier to clear gas and electricity debt on your current account.
Who can get it: Households in England, Scotland or Wales with £50 to £1,700 of debt on a prepayment meter, or £100 to £1,700 on a credit account, with household income under £25,000 (or a qualifying situation such as disability benefits, Carer's Allowance, 3 or more children, lone parent or living alone).
Grant · England, Wales, Northern Ireland · Your local council
Up to £30,000 in England (Wales up to £36,000, Northern Ireland up to £25,000); some councils give more
A council grant to adapt your home for a disabled person, which can include a heating system suited to their needs or easier-to-use heating controls.
Who can get it: Owners, tenants or landlords where a disabled person (including a child) lives or will live in the home for the grant period, usually 5 years.
Grant · England, Wales, Scotland · E.ON Next, run by Charis
Clears your energy debt after a 3 month trial of payments (no maximum published)
A grant to clear gas and electricity debt, or a free replacement cooker, fridge, fridge freezer or washing machine if yours is broken or in poor condition.
Who can get it: E.ON Next and Sainsbury's Energy customers in financial hardship.
Grant · England, Wales, Scotland · Your local council (declarations) with energy suppliers · Closing
Usually free insulation or heating upgrades through ECO4.
Lets your council refer you for ECO4 help even if you do not get benefits, for example if you are on a low income or vulnerable to the cold. The same Flex Route 2 test can also qualify you for the Warm Homes: Local Grant.
Who can get it: Private households (owners and private tenants) that meet their council's published Statement of Intent, usually low income or a health condition made worse by cold.
Grant · England, Wales, Scotland · EDF, run by Charis Grants
Amount depends on your debt and situation (no maximum published)
A grant to help clear gas or electricity debt on your EDF account, and in some cases an essential appliance such as a fridge or cooker.
Who can get it: EDF customers who are struggling with energy debt and are vulnerable or on a low income.
Grant · England, Wales, Scotland · Large energy suppliers, regulated by Ofgem · Closing
Usually free; you may be asked for a contribution.
Free or cheaper insulation and heating upgrades paid for by energy suppliers for low-income and vulnerable households. It is closing and no new scheme will replace it.
Who can get it: People on certain benefits in privately owned (EPC D to G) or privately rented (EPC E to G) homes, social tenants in EPC E to G homes, and people referred by their council under ECO Flex.
Grant · England, Wales, Scotland · ScottishPower, run by Sigma Connected Support
Part or all of your ScottishPower energy debt
A credit to your ScottishPower account that clears or reduces what you owe.
Who can get it: ScottishPower customers on a low income who are behind with bills, for example on Universal Credit, Pension Credit Savings Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related ESA, income-based JSA, Income Support or tax credits, or whose income has dropped through illness.
Grant · England · Your local council, funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)
Free for homeowners. Councils can spend on average up to £16,600 per home on insulation and solar, plus up to £16,600 on a heat pump.
Free home upgrades arranged and paid for by your council, such as insulation, solar panels, a heat pump and smart heating controls. A survey decides what your home needs.
Who can get it: Homeowners and private tenants in England on a low income (household income £36,000 or less, a means-tested benefit, or living in an eligible postcode) whose home is EPC D to G, where the council is taking part.
Grant · England · Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), with the ten Greater Manchester councils
Up to £30,000 for a first home (up to £15,000 for energy performance work and £15,000 for low carbon heating). Second and later rented homes get 50%.
The Greater Manchester version of the Warm Homes: Local Grant, funded through the area's devolved settlement. Free insulation, solar and low carbon heating for eligible homes.
Who can get it: Owner occupiers and private tenants in Greater Manchester on a low income, in homes rated EPC D to G.
Grant · England · West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and its seven councils
Free upgrades for eligible residents in priority areas; landlords can get 70% of costs on up to 4 homes, then 50%.
Warm Homes funding for the West Midlands metropolitan councils, paid through the area's devolved settlement. Councils offer free upgrades in chosen neighbourhoods, and WMCA offers landlords grants covering 70% of costs.
Who can get it: Low-income homeowners and private tenants in specific neighbourhoods of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton, in homes rated EPC D or worse.
Grant · England · Councils and housing associations, funded by DESNZ
Free to tenants; paid by your landlord with government funding.
Funding for social landlords to insulate homes and fit solar panels and low carbon heating for their tenants, at no cost to the tenant.
Who can get it: Council and housing association tenants in England whose home is EPC D to G and whose landlord won funding.
Payment · Whole UK · Fuel Bank Foundation (charity)
About 7 to 10 days of fuel
An emergency voucher to top up a prepayment gas or electricity meter when you have run out or are about to.
Who can get it: Households on a prepayment meter who have run out of credit, or soon will, and cannot afford to top up.
Payment · England, Wales · Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
£25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather
£25 paid automatically for each 7-day spell when your area averages zero degrees or below.
Who can get it: People getting Pension Credit, or certain people on Universal Credit, income-related ESA or Support for Mortgage Interest (for example with a disability or a child under 5).
Payment · England · Your local council, funded by DWP
Varies by council; usually cash or vouchers for urgent needs
Emergency help from your council if you hit a sudden money crisis, which can include help with energy bills, food and essentials, and help with housing costs. It replaced the Household Support Fund.
Who can get it: Low-income households in England facing a financial shock. Each council sets its own rules.
Payment · England · Your local council, funded by central government · Opening
£100 one-off payment
A one-off £100 paid by your council to help with energy costs, announced in the Autumn Budget 2026. There is also a £100 million council fund for struggling households in higher bands.
Who can get it: Households in England who live in, and pay council tax on, a home in council tax bands A to D as their main home. Most council tax-exempt households are included.
Payment · England, Wales, Scotland · OVO
Amount depends on your situation (no maximum published)
Help for OVO customers who think they will struggle to pay, which can include money towards your energy bill or existing energy debt, and payment plans.
Who can get it: OVO customers who are struggling to pay. OVO looks at household income, spare income and medical needs.
Payment · England, Wales, Scotland · Octopus Energy
Tailored to your situation from a £40m fund (no maximum published)
Help for Octopus customers who are struggling, which can include direct help with your bill, a standing charge holiday, a free thermal camera loan, or a free heated throw if you have a medical need.
Who can get it: Octopus Energy customers in the greatest need, for example on a low income or whose health depends on heat and power.
Payment · England, Wales · Department for Work and Pensions (DWP); HMRC takes it back from higher earners
£200 or £300 per household for winter 2026 to 2027 (£100 to £150 each if shared or in a care home)
A tax-free payment of £100 to £300 to help with heating bills, for people born on or before 27 June 1960.
Who can get it: People born on or before 27 June 1960 who usually live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. If your own total taxable income is over £35,000, HMRC takes it back.
Loan · Whole UK · Approved lenders (banks, credit unions and finance firms), backed by DESNZ
Lower-interest loan; amount, rate and term set by each lender.
A cheaper loan from a high street or specialist lender, part-funded by the government, to pay for a heat pump, solar panels, a home battery and similar upgrades.
Who can get it: Anyone who owns their home (with or without a mortgage) anywhere in the UK, subject to the lender's credit and affordability checks.
Discount · England, Wales, Scotland · Ofgem and energy suppliers · Opening
Write-off of eligible 2022 to 2024 energy debt
A one-off scheme to write off energy debt built up during the 2022 to 2024 energy crisis for people in financial difficulty, if they re-engage with paying.
Who can get it: Bill payers on means-tested benefits, disability benefits, or of pension age, who built up energy debt during 2022 to 2024.
Discount · England, Wales, Scotland · Your electricity supplier, under rules set by DESNZ and Ofgem
£150 off your electricity bill for winter 2026 to 2027
A one-off £150 taken off your electricity bill (or gas bill with a dual fuel supplier) each winter. It is not paid to you as cash.
Who can get it: In England and Wales: households where you or your partner got Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related ESA or Pension Credit on 23 August 2026, your name is on the electricity bill, and your supplier is in the scheme.
Offer · England, Wales · Age UK and Age Cymru (charity)
Free checks and small energy-saving items
Free benefit checks and home energy checks from local Age UK and Age Cymru branches to help older people stay warm.
Who can get it: Older people in England and Wales where their local Age UK or Age Cymru runs the service.
Tariff · England, Wales, Scotland · Electricity suppliers (SEG licensees), overseen by Ofgem
Pence per unit exported; rate set by each supplier and always above zero
Energy suppliers pay you for the spare electricity your solar panels or other small generator send to the grid.
Who can get it: Anyone in Great Britain with solar panels, a small wind turbine, hydro, micro CHP or anaerobic digestion up to 5MW (micro CHP up to 50kW), with an export meter (usually a smart meter).
Tax saving · Whole UK · HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) · Closing
0% VAT instead of 5% on installed energy-saving products
No VAT is charged when an installer fits insulation, solar panels, batteries, heat pumps, heating controls and similar products in a home. This saves you 5% compared with the normal reduced rate.
Who can get it: Anyone having qualifying products installed in a home (or charity building) in the UK. Applied by the installer.
Tax saving · Whole UK · HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), applied by your electricity supplier
About £45 to £50 a year off a typical electricity bill
VAT has been taken off home electricity bills, cutting them by about £45 to £50 a year. It happens automatically.
Who can get it: All households in Great Britain, including prepayment customers. Northern Ireland is expected to get the cut from April 2027.
Free advice · Whole UK · Various occupational charities (found through Turn2us)
Varies by fund
Many trades and professions have their own charity that can help past and present workers with bills and essentials.
Who can get it: People who work or used to work in a particular job, and often their partners and children. Each fund sets its own rules.
Free advice · Whole UK · MoneyHelper (Money and Pensions Service, government backed)
Free advice
A free online tool that finds free, confidential debt advice by phone, online or face to face where you live.
Who can get it: Anyone in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland looking for free debt advice.
Free advice · Whole UK · StepChange Debt Charity
Free advice
Free debt advice online or by phone, including help with gas and electricity arrears.
Who can get it: Anyone in the UK who is worried about debt, including energy bill debt. You do not need to be behind on payments to ask for help.
Free advice · Whole UK · Turn2us (charity)
Free search tool
A free online search that matches you to charity grants from over 1,700 UK organisations.
Who can get it: Anyone living in the UK who needs help with essentials. You answer a few questions and it lists grants you may get.
Free advice · Whole UK · Warm Welcome Campaign, Good Faith Foundation (charity)
Free to use
A map of free, welcoming community spaces near you where you can keep warm, have a hot drink and meet people.
Who can get it: Anyone. You do not need to qualify or be referred.
Free advice · England, Wales · Citizens Advice
Free advice
Free advice on energy bills, debt, payment plans and complaints from Citizens Advice in England and Wales.
Who can get it: Anyone in England or Wales who is struggling with energy bills or debt, or has a problem with their energy supplier.
Free advice · England, Wales, Scotland · Energy Ombudsman
Free complaints service
A free, impartial service that settles complaints you cannot sort out with your energy supplier or network company.
Who can get it: Households and small businesses with an unresolved complaint about an energy supplier, network operator, heat network or Green Deal provider.
Free advice · England, Wales · GOV.UK (DESNZ)
Free advice
A free official online tool and phone line that suggests improvements for your home, with rough costs and bill savings.
Who can get it: Anyone with a home in England or Wales.
Free advice · England, Wales, Scotland · National Debtline (charity)
Free advice
Free, confidential debt advice by phone, webchat and online for people in England, Wales and Scotland.
Who can get it: Anyone in England, Wales or Scotland worried about debt, including energy bill arrears.
Free advice · England, Wales, Scotland · Your energy supplier and electricity and gas network operators, overseen by Ofgem
Free extra support (no money)
A free list that gets you extra help, such as warning of power cuts, priority support if your supply is cut off, a password scheme for callers and bills in accessible formats.
Who can get it: People who have reached State Pension age, are disabled or have a long-term or mental health condition, are pregnant or have young children, rely on medical equipment that needs power, struggle with English, or are going through a change such as bereavement or leaving hospital.
Free advice · England, Wales, Scotland · Ofgem (energy regulator)
Free help from your supplier
Ofgem says you can ask your supplier for a payment plan, a payment break or reduction, a review of your payments and debt repayments, and access to hardship funds.
Who can get it: Any household in England, Scotland or Wales that is struggling, or expects to struggle, to pay gas or electricity bills.
Put in your postcode and answer a few optional questions to see which of these you look eligible for.
