Individuals and families with domestic gas or energy debts ranging from £50 to £1,700 on pre-payment meter accounts can apply for support through the Individual and Families grants programme. Administered by the British Gas Energy Trust, this programme provides grants to British Gas and non-British Gas customers with pre-payment or credit accounts to clear outstanding arrears with their energy supplier.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Have energy debt up to £1,700 on a pre-payment meter or credit account in their main residence.
• Reside in England, Scotland, or Wales.
• Have a household income of less than £20,328 or someone in the household is registered disabled and receives a disability benefit or receives Carers Allowance or has 3+ children
• Not have received a British Gas Energy Trust grant in the past two years.
• Be applying to clear outstanding debt on a current or active gas, electricity, or dual fuel account registered to their main residence.
• Be in or at risk of fuel poverty.
• Have received assistance from a money advice agency.

Customers of OVO, Boost, Eon Next, EDF, Scottish Power, Octopus, Shell Energy, SSE, Utilita and Utility Warehouse should apply to their respective suppliers’ funds.

On average, applications are taking 6 weeks to be processed.