Power value cap replace
Ofgem says the power value cap for a typical dual-fuel family paying by Direct Debit is £1,862 a 12 months from 1 July to 30 September 2026.
This isn’t a most complete invoice. The cap limits the unit charges and standing fees suppliers can apply to straightforward variable tariffs, so the quantity you really pay nonetheless relies on how a lot power you utilize.
Ofgem is because of announce the cap overlaying October to December 2026 by 26 August 2026. Test the newest Ofgem price-cap figures earlier than winter.
First, test whether or not you’re overpaying
Grants can present very important emergency help, however it’s also price checking whether or not your family contracts are costing greater than they should.
Let Nous test your family payments
Nous is a household-bills assistant that helps you retain monitor of contracts resembling power, broadband and cellular, seems to be for different offers and may also help with switching.
Test your family payments with Nous
Nous isn’t a authorities grant or debt-advice charity. Financial savings will not be assured and rely in your present suppliers, tariffs, utilization and contract phrases.
Earlier than switching an power tariff, evaluate the complete annual value, tariff size, customer-service preparations and any exit charges. It’s also possible to learn MoneyMagpie’s information to saving cash on on a regular basis necessities.
Disaster and Resilience Fund in England
The Family Assist Fund resulted in England on 31 March 2026. It has been changed by the Disaster and Resilience Fund, which is run by native councils.
The brand new fund is meant to assist individuals who can not afford necessities or who’re dealing with a sudden monetary shock. Relying in your council, assist might embrace meals, power, water, important home goods, emergency residing bills, housing prices, debt recommendation or longer-term help.
You don’t at all times must be claiming advantages
Authorities steerage says the fund is aimed toward weak individuals and those that can not pay for necessities. You don’t essentially have to obtain advantages, and a fee from the fund shouldn’t have an effect on your advantages.
Discover your council and test native cost-of-living assist.
Every council units its personal software course of and native priorities. Contact your council even if you happen to obtained assist underneath the previous Family Assist Fund, as you could have to make a brand new software.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Eire function separate welfare and emergency-support preparations. Test your council or devolved-government web site for native assist.
Council Tax reductions and reductions
You would be paying an excessive amount of Council Tax with out realising it. Assist could also be out there if:
- You’re the solely grownup counted for Council Tax, which normally offers a 25% low cost.
- You reside with people who find themselves disregarded, resembling some full-time college students, carers or apprentices.
- Somebody within the family has a extreme psychological impairment and meets the medical and profit situations.
- You’re on a low earnings and qualify on your council’s Council Tax Discount scheme.
- Your own home has qualifying amenities or additional area required by a disabled resident.
Extreme psychological impairment guidelines
A qualifying particular person could also be disregarded when the council counts the adults in a house. An individual who lives alone and meets the necessities could obtain a full exemption. In a shared family, the discount relies on who else lives there and whether or not they’re additionally disregarded.
A disabled band discount could enable a family to pay the speed for the band instantly beneath its present band. There may be additionally a discount for qualifying Band A houses. Merely having spare bedrooms isn’t sufficient; the area or amenities should be required by a disabled resident.
Apply for Council Tax Discount via GOV.UK. Ask your council whether or not a reduction may be backdated if you happen to certified earlier.
MoneyMagpie additionally explains different types of monetary provide help to could possibly declare.
Heat Residence Low cost
The Heat Residence Low cost supplies a one-off £150 discount on an eligible family’s electrical energy invoice. It’s a credit score utilized to the invoice fairly than a money fee.
The 2025/26 scheme has closed. GOV.UK says it’ll reopen in October 2026.
England and Wales
Eligible households normally embrace individuals receiving the Assure Credit score factor of Pension Credit score and qualifying low-income households receiving sure means-tested advantages. Many funds are recognized mechanically via authorities and provider information, though some households could also be requested to substantiate particulars.
Scotland
Folks receiving the Assure Credit score factor of Pension Credit score are usually recognized mechanically. Different low-income prospects might have to use on to a taking part provider, so it’s price contacting your provider promptly when purposes open.
The scheme doesn’t function in Northern Eire. All the time test the present guidelines and taking part suppliers on the official Heat Residence Low cost web page.
Should you use a prepayment meter, your provider ought to clarify learn how to redeem or apply the low cost. Hold any letter or voucher secure and test its expiry date.
Winter Gasoline Fee
For winter 2026/27, individuals born earlier than 28 June 1960 could also be eligible for between £100 and £300 to assist with heating prices in England, Wales and Northern Eire.
The quantity relies on your age and family circumstances through the qualifying week, which is 21 to 27 September 2026. Most eligible individuals ought to obtain a letter in October or November and be paid mechanically in November or December.
The £35,000 earnings rule
In case your particular person complete earnings is above £35,000, HMRC can recuperate the Winter Gasoline Fee via the tax system. Eligible individuals who anticipate to exceed the edge can select to decide out by the related deadline.
Claims for winter 2026/27 open on 21 September 2026 for individuals who want to use. Test the official Winter Gasoline Fee steerage.
What about Scotland?
Folks residing in Scotland could qualify for the separate Pension Age Winter Heating Fee. Test mygov.scot for present quantities, dates and eligibility.
Chilly Climate Funds
Chilly Climate Funds assist eligible individuals in England, Wales and Northern Eire during times of exceptionally chilly climate.
Beneath the scheme, an eligible particular person receives £25 for every seven-day interval when the typical temperature of their space is recorded or forecast to be 0°C or beneath. The 2026/27 season runs from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027.
It’s possible you’ll qualify if you happen to obtain sure advantages, together with Pension Credit score, income-related Employment and Assist Allowance, Common Credit score or Assist for Mortgage Curiosity. Further situations can apply.
Funds needs to be computerized. See the Chilly Climate Fee steerage for England and Wales or Northern Eire steerage.
Scotland makes use of a separate Winter Heating Fee, which isn’t triggered by a selected spell of chilly climate.
Emergency gasoline vouchers
Should you can not afford to prime up a prepayment meter, you could possibly acquire an emergency gasoline voucher via your council, Residents Recommendation, a meals financial institution, a housing affiliation, an energy-support charity or one other native welfare organisation.
A code could also be despatched by textual content, electronic mail or letter and redeemed at a taking part PayPoint, Payzone or Publish Workplace outlet. It’s possible you’ll want identification and proof of tackle.
Test the expiry date instantly
Some gasoline vouchers should be used inside a brief interval. If you’re practically out of credit score, contact your provider right away and ask about emergency or further credit score. Ask how and when any credit score can be repaid earlier than accepting it.
Power debt grants and hardship funds
Some suppliers and charitable trusts supply grants or different help to households which have fallen behind with gasoline or electrical energy payments. Funds and eligibility guidelines can change, however attainable sources embrace:
Some funds require you to be a buyer of the named provider. It’s possible you’ll be requested to finish an income-and-expenditure evaluation, get debt recommendation or present you could afford your ongoing utilization as soon as the arrears are cleared.
Ask your provider for all out there choices
- An reasonably priced compensation plan
- A brief fee discount or fee break
- A evaluation of your Direct Debit
- A hardship grant or trust-fund software
- Emergency credit score or a gasoline voucher
- Power-efficiency help
By no means conform to repayments that depart you with out sufficient for meals, hire, Council Tax or different necessities.
Cease family contracts quietly turning into dearer
Nous may also help monitor payments and renewal dates, analysis options and help with switching eligible family companies.
Ask Nous to test your payments
Assessment any proposed change fastidiously, together with the whole value, tariff size, exit charges and repair phrases.
Precedence Companies Register
The Precedence Companies Register is free and supplies additional help for individuals who could need assistance from their power provider or electrical energy community operator.
It’s possible you’ll qualify due to age, incapacity, long-term sickness, being pregnant, a toddler underneath 5, communication wants, mental-health wants, non permanent medical circumstances or reliance on electrically powered medical gear.
Assist could embrace accessible payments, meter-reading help, discover of deliberate interruptions and further assist throughout an influence lower.
It’s possible you’ll have to register individually along with your provider and native community operator. Study extra from Ofgem’s Precedence Companies Register steerage.
Assist bettering your property
Relying in your location, earnings, advantages and property, you could qualify for insulation, heating enhancements or different energy-efficiency measures.
Funding can embrace provider obligations, local-authority schemes and devolved-government programmes. Test the present authorities energy-efficiency steerage.
In Northern Eire, test NI Direct’s energy-saving grants data.
Watch out for “free boiler” and insulation scams
Don’t depend on an unsolicited caller’s declare that everybody qualifies. Test the scheme, installer and funding independently earlier than sharing private data or signing an settlement.
Get a advantages test
A advantages calculator or adviser might determine entitlement to Pension Credit score, Common Credit score, Council Tax Discount, Attendance Allowance, Private Independence Fee, Carer’s Allowance, housing help or native welfare help.
Free checks can be found from:
MoneyMagpie’s information to incapacity advantages and entitlements may assist.
Don’t wait till your power is disconnected
Contact your provider as quickly as you realise you can not pay. Clarify your funds, well being wants and whether or not kids or weak individuals stay within the property.
Get free debt recommendation if you’re borrowing to pay power payments or lacking different important funds:
MoneyMagpie additionally has steerage on the place to get assist with Common Credit score issues
Incessantly requested questions
Is the power value cap the utmost I may be charged?
No. It limits unit charges and standing fees on lined tariffs, not the whole quantity of power a family can use. A family that makes use of extra power will pay greater than the standard annual determine.
Does the Family Assist Fund nonetheless exist in 2026?
It resulted in England on 31 March 2026 and was changed by the domestically administered Disaster and Resilience Fund from 1 April 2026.
How a lot is the Heat Residence Low cost?
It’s a one-off £150 credit score on an eligible family’s electrical energy invoice. The scheme is because of reopen in October 2026.
How a lot is the Winter Gasoline Fee for 2026/27?
Eligible individuals in England, Wales and Northern Eire could obtain between £100 and £300. The quantity relies on age and family circumstances.
Can my power provider assist if I’m already in debt?
Doubtlessly. Ask about an reasonably priced compensation plan, Direct Debit evaluation, hardship grants, emergency credit score and another help out there for patrons in fee problem.
