Fuel Bank Foundation
A £30 Fuel Bank voucher is available.
- vouchers are usually issued within 24 hours and are valid for 30 days.
- vouchers are redeemed at PayPoint outlets, with the exception of British/Scottish Gas where the vouchers are Post Office and must be redeemed at a Post Office.
Who's eligible
- Prepayment meter customers for gas/electricity
- If you are in fuel crisis
How to access
You can be referred through the Community Advice Services team and Advice and Support Hub staff.
Fuel Bank Heat Fund
This fund is available for financially vulnerable households who live off the gas grid and rely on bulk fuel deliveries. The Heat Fund ensures people are not left without energy for basics like heating or hot water.
Who's eligible
- Your household must rely on coal, wood, heating oil, or LPG as primary source of heat.
- Your household must be off the gas grid and not use electricity as the primary source of heating.
- You must be located in Scotland.
- You are EITHER living without heat because you are unable to afford to purchase fuel, OR are imminently at risk of living without heat because you are unable to afford to purchase bulk fuel (imminently means within 7 days).
You can be referred through the Community Advice Services team and Advice and Support Hub staff.
Home Energy Scotland
Home Energy Scotland offer free and impartial energy advice, information on grants and loans, tariff advice and income maximisation.
For more information, visit Home Energy Scotland.
Home Heating Support Fund
Payments made directly to energy supplier or energy vouchers sent directly to individual customers.
- For those facing significant financial hardship regardless of the fuel or payment method used.
Who's eligible
- You must have received energy and/or debt advice to be eligible.
Those already disconnected from an energy source are not eligible for this fund.
How to access
Our Community Advice Services team can apply on your behalf or you can apply yourself at homeheatingadvice.scot.
Or contact Advice Direct Scotland:
Winter Fuel Payment
This year will be combined with Pensioner Cost of Living Payment - £250 to £600 available.
Payments will be made in November or December 2023.
Ensure your address is correct with HMRC. You should get a letter in October or November telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment you'll get, if you're eligible.
Who's eligible
- If you were born on or before 26 September 1956.
- You lived in the UK for at least one day during the week 19 - 25 September 2022 (this is called the 'qualifying week').
How to access
Most get it automatically.
But you must apply if:
- you've not had it before
- you do not get benefits or a State Pension or if you've deferred your State Pension
- you get Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit, Universal Credit or an Adult Disability Payment from the Scottish Government
Complete the Winter Fuel Payment claim form to apply.
Scottish Welfare Fund - Crisis Grant
To meet an urgent need that poses an immediate and substantial risk to health and safety eg food and energy supply (electricity or gas).
Who's eligible
You can apply if you:
- live in the Falkirk Council area
- are legally resident in the UK
- aged 16 and over
- are on a qualifying benefit eg Income Support or low income
- do not have any access to other appropriate sources of financial support
- are subject to a sanction or disallowance by the DWP and have had your benefit reduced as a result (you may be considered for a Crisis Grant until you can arrange a hardship payment).
How to access
Apply using the Scottish Welfare fund online form.
Or visit one of our Advice and Support Hubs.
The Scottish Welfare Fund Helpline is open 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday (except bank holidays):
Child Winter Heating Assistance
A benefit from the Scottish Government to help disabled children and young people and their families with increased heating costs over winter.
This benefit is paid once a year. The payment for winter 2023-2024 is £235.70.
Who's eligible
- Young people aged 19 or younger and get one of the following:
- the highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment
- the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance for children
- the enhanced daily living rate of Personal Independence Payment
How to access
Those eligible are automatically paid.
Usually paid from end of November onwards.
Cost of Living Payment
- £301 – paid between 25 April 2023 and 17 May 2023 for most people
- £300 – Autumn 2023
- £299 – Spring 2024
Who's eligible
You must be in receipt of any of the following:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
How to access
You will be paid this automatically.
Payment will be made in the same way as other benefits.
Disability Cost of Living Payment
Payment of £150 will be made automatically over two-week period between 20 June and 4 July 2023.
Who's eligible
You must be in receipt of the following:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance for adults
- Disability Living Allowance for children
- Personal Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
How to access
You will be paid this automatically.
Winter Heating Payment is replacing the Cold Weather Payment
An annual £50 payment, paid automatically through Social Security Scotland. Payments for winter 2022 will start from February 2023.
Who's eligible
You must be in receipt of one of the following:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
How to access
You will be paid this automatically.
Warmer Homes Scotland
Referrals for Warmer Homes Scotland have been paused from Friday 31 March 2023 and will be re-starting in October 2023.
Applications received by Home Energy Scotland from Saturday 1 April 2023 onwards have been assessed under the new eligibility criteria and referrals are being held onto until Monday 2 October 2023.
E.ON Energy Fund/ E.ON Next Energy Fund
Grants towards bills and replacement appliances.
Who's eligible
How to access
You can contact E.ON Next Energy Fund or you can be referred through our Debt Advice Team.
OVO Energy Fund
Who's eligible
- OVO customers only.
- You have debt to either electricity or gas account of more than £150. The debt has been accumulated over 90 days.
- You have a gross annual household income of £16,190 or less.
- You can't re-apply if you've previously applied to the fund in the last 2 calendar years.
How to access
Contact OVO direct:
Scottish Power Hardship Fund
Customers can receive a full or partial award to their arrears and then their Scottish Power account will be credited. Awards will only be paid once the customer commits to a payment arrangement towards their on-going usage.
Who's eligible
- Scottish Power customers only.
How to access
You can apply for the Scottish Power Hardship Fund or you can be referred through our Debt Advice Team.
To qualify customers must be receiving the following:
- Income Support
- Job Seekers Allowance
- Employment or Support Allowance
- Pension Credit
Customers can also qualify if they have a low household income or special circumstances for example, income reduction or illness.
British Gas Energy Support Fund
You need to be a British Gas customer to apply for this fund. This fund credits your energy account directly if you are between £250 and £1,500 in energy debt and you meet the following criteria:
- You live in Scotland.
- You must be seeking a grant to clear an outstanding debt on a current or open gas, electricity or dual fuel energy account in your name or be a member of that household, the energy account must relate to your main residence.
- You have electric and/or gas debt between £250 - £1,500; and
- You must be in or facing fuel poverty.
How to access
Information needed to apply:
- Proof of all household income.
- A meter read for your gas and/or electricity account (unless you have a smart meter).
All applicants need to have sought money advice before applying and be able to provide evidence of this – please contact our debt advice team or your local Citizens Advice Bureau.
Apply at British Gas Energy Trust.
SGN Assisted Connections – Help to Heat
Designed to assist customers with a free or reduced price gas connection who are in receipt of a passport benefit; in fuel poverty or who qualify under a Local Authority Statement of Intent.
To find out if you are eligible, please contact YES Energy Solution:
Priority Services Register
You can apply to the Priority Services Register.
The register is a free support service from those in vulnerable situations. You can apply through your energy provider or network operator.
Ofgem rules mean energy suppliers must offer a payment plan people can afford.
Advice and Support
If you need help to claim benefits, unsure what benefits you may be entitled to or have recently been refused benefits the Welfare Benefits Team can help.
If you're worried about debt or are struggling to manage your money, we can help. The Debt Advice Team can give you help and advice on all types of debt including rent and mortgage arrears, council tax, personal loans, hire purchase agreements, credit cards, store cards, payday loans, catalogues, and fuel bills.
For more information on cost of living support: Benefits & support – Cost of living support.
For guidance on how to save energy at home: Wellbeing – Guidance on domestic energy saving.
Beware of scams
Scammers are targeting people struggling with their energy bills. Energy Advice offer free and practical advice on how to stay safe.