Fuel poverty can affect anyone. If you’re struggling to keep your home warm or are worried about rising energy bills, help is at hand.

A range of government schemes, local authority funds and energy supplier grants are available to help households manage costs, improve energy efficiency and stay warm during the colder months.

Each scheme has different eligibility criteria, but most will require you to be on a low income or in receipt of certain benefits. This article looks at the schemes that are designed to help.

What energy grants are available in the UK

Energy Supplier Hardship Funds

Most energy suppliers offer their own grants for customers who are in energy debt or are struggling to pay their bills. It’s important to speak to them first, to see what help might be available. Read our blog about hardship funds to find out more.

Household Support Fund

Your local council may offer support through the Household Support Fund.

It aims to help people who are struggling to afford things like energy, water, food or essential items.

Each council has its own eligibility criteria. Use the  council checker  to see what support might be available in your area.

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides people with grants towards installation costs of energy efficient heating devices which can help to bring energy costs down.

Homeowners in England and Wales can get £7,500 towards the cost of an air source or ground source heat pump, or £5,000 towards the cost of a biomass boiler. In Scotland, there’s a similar project called the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme.

Warm Homes: Local Grant

The Warm Homes: Local Grant helps people living in England make energy efficiency improvements to their homes.

The grants are available through local councils and are open to people on low incomes, those that are receiving certain benefits live in a certain postcode.

Those that are eligible could get support with things like insulation or the installation of air source heat pumps, solar panels or smart controls. There are similar schemes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.