How can you get help with energy bills if you’re disabled?

If you’re disabled, there’s financial help available for you. Here’s some of the financial support disabled people can get to help with energy bills.

Available in England, Wales and Scotland

You may be able to get help through the Warm Home Discount Scheme this winter. The scheme offers £150 off your electricity bill if you get certain benefits.

It’s applied automatically by your electricity supplier if you’re in England or Wales. If you’re in Scotland, you’ll need to apply through your energy supplier.  

Available in England, Wales and Scotland

There is a similar scheme for permanent residents of park homes also offering £150 towards your energy bill for eligible people. Funding is limited and allocated on a first come first served basis and residents must apply.

Available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

You might be able to get £200 or £300 to help pay your bills from the Winter Fuel Payment.

It’s an annual, tax-free lump sum intended to give older people reassurance in the winter months.

You may be eligible for the winter fuel payment for winter 2024 to 2025 if:

• You were born before 23 September 1958.
• You receive certain benefits like pension credit, universal credit, and income-related employment benefits.

Changes to Winter Fuel Payment eligibility rules

In July 2024 the UK Government announced that only households receiving pension credit or means-tested benefits would be eligible to receive the winter fuel payment. So even if you’ve previously received it, you should check that you’re still able to receive your winter fuel payment this year.

England, Northern Ireland and Wales

If live in England, Northern Ireland, or Wales, you may be able to get a Cold Weather Payment. This is paid if the average temperature in your area is recorded or forecasted as 0˚C or below over seven consecutive days.

The payment is £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between November and March to help you stay warm.

Scotland

In Scotland, there isn’t a cold weather payment. Instead, you might get an annual Winter Heating Payment.

Your local council might be able to offer help with the cost of living through a Household Support Fund. These funds are for vulnerable people or those who can’t pay for essentials. Speak to your local council to find out more.

Depending on your circumstances, there might be funding available for you to make energy saving home improvements to your home, including:

• Great British Insulation Scheme
• Boiler Upgrade Scheme
• Energy Company Obligation (ECO)

Each fund has its own eligibility criteria so you should explore the options most suited to you.

If you’re struggling to pay your energy bill, speak to your energy supplier.

Ofgem, the energy regulator, has rules that mean suppliers must work with you to agree an affordable payment plan.

Not sure who your energy supplier is? Use Citizens Advice’s find your supplier guide.

You can also sign up to your energy supplier’s priority services register.

This is a free support service aimed at helping vulnerable homes with a variety of things including:

• Advice on energy bills and saving tips
• Emergency support during power cuts
• Priority communication lines

Your energy supplier might also have financial support schemes of their own to help disabled people pay their bills. Speak to your energy supplier to find out what help is available and how to apply.

Energy suppliers must follow a set of rules called the ‘standard licence conditions’ and can be fined if it’s proven they’ve failed to do so. Citizens Advice has information about taking action if you think your energy supplier may have discriminated against you based on your disability.

Scope’s disability energy support includes free advice if you or a loved one are disabled and worried about energy or water bills. It also provides details of other ways disabled people can get help with energy bills.

If you need support with your mental health, there is help available from Mind.

Depending on where you are in the UK, there is local help available too. Each of the four nations have specific cost of living support available:

• England
• Scotland
• Wales
• Northern Ireland

England

• If you live in Northumberland, North Tyneside or Newcastle, speak to Home Energy Advice North East.
• For Greater Manchester, Cumbria or Lancashire, speak to Take Charge.

Scotland

• Home Energy Scotland offers free, impartial advice on energy saving, keeping warm at home, renewable energy, greener travel, cutting water waste and more.

Wales

• Welsh Government Warm Homes Nest scheme provides free advice and home improvements to help you save energy and money.

Northern Ireland

• NI Energy Advice offers free independent and impartial advice about energy grants and other sources of help.

Living costs were already higher for disabled people before the cost-of-living crisis. Extra costs may come from things like:

• Powering medical or specialist equipment, such as an electric wheelchair or hoist.
• Travel, such as taking taxis more frequently because public transport isn’t accessible.
• Needing to have the heating on for longer or more often to make their homes comfortable.

Disabled people are also nearly twice as likely to be unemployed than non-disabled people. They also face a higher risk of poverty.

All of this makes disabled people particularly vulnerable to higher energy bills.

Our Energywire newsletter is packed with ways to help you save money on your energy bills and lower your carbon footprint.

Get tips and advice on saving energy, installing renewable and low carbon technology, and the support available across the UK.

Sign up to our newsletter