GrantRadar

British Gas Energy Trust

The Energy Support Grant

Grants for individual households in England, Wales and Scotland to write off domestic gas and electricity debt of up to £1,700 on a current account, paid as credit to the energy account. The Energy Support Grant replaces the Trust's previous schemes (the Individuals and Families Fund is now closed) and opens on 1 October 2026. Applicants must have had money advice in the last 6 months, and customers of suppliers with their own support funds must be declined by those first. This is a grant for individuals, not organisations, though advice agencies can apply on a client's behalf.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£50 – £1,700
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Individuals/households living in England, Wales or Scotland with energy debt on a current account in their own name at their home: prepayment customers owing £50-£1,700, credit account customers owing £100-£1,700
  • They must have received money advice or guidance in the last 6 months (or use the Trust's partner self-help Benefit Calculator within the application), not have had a Trust grant in the last 2 years, be in or facing fuel poverty, and have household income under £25,000 or a household member who is disabled and receives a disability benefit, receives Carer's Allowance, has 3+ children, is a single occupant, or is a lone parent with fewer than 3 children
  • Customers of OVO, Boost, E.ON Next, EDF, ScottishPower, Octopus, Shell Energy, SSE, Utility Warehouse or Sainsbury's Energy must apply to their supplier's fund first and can only apply here with evidence of a recent decline
  • Money advice services can apply on behalf of clients via an agent account

What it funds

  • Write-off of outstanding gas and/or electricity debt on a current energy account in the applicant's name at their place of residence, for prepayment meter customers owing £50-£1,700 and credit account customers owing £100-£1,700
  • Successful grants are applied as credit to the energy account
  • Open to British Gas customers and customers of other suppliers

What it will not fund

  • Debt on closed accounts (e.g. after moving home or changing supplier)
  • Energy debt above £1,700 or below £50 (prepayment) / £100 (credit account)
  • Households that have received a British Gas Energy Trust grant in the last 2 years
  • Customers of OVO, Boost, E.ON Next, EDF, ScottishPower, Octopus, Shell Energy, SSE, Utility Warehouse or Sainsbury's Energy who have not first been declined by their supplier's own support fund
  • Households outside England, Wales and Scotland
  • Applicants with a deficit budget, except in exceptional circumstances
  • Complaints about British Gas gas or electricity accounts (the Trust is an independent charity)

How to apply

  1. Check the eligibility criteria on the Grants Available page and the application portal
  2. Get money advice or guidance (from a Trust-funded money and energy advice project, Citizens Advice or another advice agency) or use the self-help Benefit Calculator available in the application
  3. If you are with one of the listed suppliers that has its own support fund, apply to that fund first and keep evidence of the decline
  4. Register on the application portal (bget.org.uk) with an individual account, or an agent account if applying for others
  5. Complete the online form with energy account numbers, meter readings taken on the day you submit, all household income, expenditure and debts (including all energy debts), and household circumstances
  6. Upload the supporting evidence and submit; the Trust acknowledges by email and may email asking for more information, giving 30 days to respond
  7. The Trust emails the decision; if successful the grant is credited to your energy account

Include ALL energy debts - they cannot be added after submission, and successful applicants cannot reapply for two years.

Unsuccessful applicants can reapply after a change in circumstances; decisions are final with no appeal.

The portal may close with little or no notice once funds are spent.

Have ready

  • Proof of household income from the last 6 months
  • Proof of money advice/guidance in the last 6 months (standard financial statement, letter or personal action plan - the full document, not screenshots or partial pages)
  • Meter reading of gas and/or electricity account (British Gas customers)
  • Non-British Gas customers: a bill from the last 4 weeks on actual readings showing name, account number or supply address, or an email from the supplier confirming name, account number, supply address, outstanding balance and that the balance is based on actual readings
  • Evidence of decline from your supplier's support fund (customers of the listed suppliers)

The application cannot be submitted without these documents; further evidence may be requested at the end of the form depending on answers. Evidence must be dated within three months of applying (annual benefit letters accepted).

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