Trusted by over 500,000 customers for 20+ years
Order online or call
01480 775454
Sign in
Trusted by over 500,000 customers for 20+ years
Order online or call
01480 775454
Sign in
Trusted by over 500,000 customers for 20+ years
Written by
Jenna Culy
on 27 Jan 2026
and updated on
30 Jan 2026
Categorised in
Tips and Advice
Energy costs can be managed in a variety of ways. While approaches to funding and support may change over time, help continues to be available for people on lower incomes, alongside other options that may also help reduce or manage bills. Below are some options to consider:
This scheme offers a tax-free payment, usually between £100 and £300, to help older households with winter heating costs. Payments are normally made automatically in November or December. If your income is above a certain level, the payment may be reclaimed through tax.
The scheme has also been extended for a further five years, providing continued support for eligible older households beyond its original end date.
Eligibility depends on your date of birth (on or before 21 September 1959 for winter 2025/26), income, and personal circumstances.
This is an automatic payment for people on certain benefits when temperatures in their area drop to 0°C or below for seven consecutive days between 1 November 2025 and 31 March 2026. It helps cover extra heating costs and is paid directly into your bank account.
You don’t need to apply if you receive qualifying benefits such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit, and it is separate from the Winter Fuel Payment.
This is a one-off £150 payment to help low-income and vulnerable households with energy costs. It is usually applied directly to your electricity bill (and sometimes gas) between October 2025 and March 2026. Eligibility has been widened to include more people receiving means-tested benefits.
In some cases, such as for park home residents or households in Scotland, you may need to apply through your energy supplier or a dedicated helpline by February 2026.
The Household Support Fund is a government-funded grant designed to help low-income and vulnerable households with rising living costs. Eligible households can apply for one payment between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026.
Local councils distribute the funding to support households facing immediate financial hardship, usually through vouchers or cash payments to help cover essentials such as energy bills and food.
The Alternative Fuel Payment closed to new applications on 31 May 2023 and is no longer available. This means you cannot apply for the scheme for the 2025/26 winter period, as it has now ended.
If you use heating oil, you may be wondering how to manage your heating costs over the 2025/26 winter period. Although the Alternative Fuel Payment is no longer available, there are still several support options that may help you heat your home.
This specific scheme ended because it was designed as a temporary measure to help households with high energy costs during the 2022/23 winter, when oil and gas prices rose sharply. As prices stabilised and the immediate crisis passed, the UK Government brought the scheme to an end.
Instead, support was refocused on existing schemes such as the Winter Fuel Payment, which has since been more tightly targeted at lower-income pensioners, making the Alternative Fuel Payment no longer necessary as an emergency measure.
BoilerJuice makes paying for heating oil simpler and more flexible. You can spread the cost monthly with our payment plan or choose PayPal Pay in 3 to split your payment into smaller, manageable payments - helping you keep your home warm without the stress of paying everything upfront.
There is an increased amount of text messages being sent from scammers to households regarding ‘The Energy Support Scheme.’ They aim to gain your bank details and any other confidential information.
Please do not click the link in these messages for your safety. The government will not ask for this level of information via text. Any government energy support funds will be applied automatically.
Price Charts