Energy, heating and water support

The NRHA Customer Support Fund can help our customers who have a specific short-term need which they cannot afford and where there is no other help available.

• Residents and leaseholders can apply for funds using a simple form.
• All applications are subject to a further assessment by phone and funds being available.
• The fund has been split into three categories; Emergency Support Fund, New Home Tenancy Support and Opportunity Fund.

Emergency Support Fund

This fund offers emergency financial assistance when you're unable to access any other funding at all within the time needed.

It can be used to help if you're struggling to afford food and other basic household essentials, or to pay utility bills such as energy, gas or water.

Find out more about the funds available and how to apply

This fund provides financial support to help vulnerable households who can't pay for food or energy and have no other access to funds this winter.

How to apply for the fund:

• The fund is available until 31 March 2024.
• Each council has their own fund and eligibility criteria.
• You can find out more about how to apply on their websites:

North Northamptonshire

West Northamptonshire

The Warm Home Discount is a one-off £150 discount off your energy bill.

If your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity, you may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead.

There are two ways to qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme:

• Core group 1: for people who get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit.
• Core group 2: for people on a low income and who get certain means-tested benefits.

If you’re in either of these groups and qualify, you should have received a letter telling you how to get the discount.

Not all suppliers are part of the scheme. Check if yours is at:
www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme

Find out more about the Warm Home Discount Scheme

If you were born before 25 September 1957 you could get between £250 and £600 to help you pay your heating bills during winter. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’.

The amount you get includes a ‘Pensioner Cost of Living Payment’. This is between £150 and £300. You’ll get this extra amount in winter 2023 to 2024. This is in addition to any other Cost of Living Payments you get with your benefit or tax credits.

You usually get a Winter Fuel Payment automatically if you are eligible and you get the State Pension or another social security benefit (not Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit).

Find how much you can get, and how to claim on GOV.UK.

Cold Weather Payments are one-off payments to help you pay for extra heating costs when it’s very cold.

You’ll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over 7 consecutive days.

You’ll get £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.

You’ll only be eligible if you already recive one of these benefits:

• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit
• Support for Mortgage Interest

You do not need to apply. If you’re eligible to get a Cold Weather Payment, you’ll be paid it automatically.

If you think you should have received a payment, but haven’t you can check on the gov.uk website below for your postcode.

Find out more about Cold Weather Payments on GOV.UK

If you’re in debt to your energy supplier, you may be able to get a grant from a charitable trust to help pay it off.

• British Gas Energy Trust - open to anyone
  The British Gas Energy Trust offer grants to clear domestic gas and electricity debts. These grants are open for anyone to apply for, you don't need to be a British Gas customer.

Other energy companies offer grants specifically for their customers, including:

• Scottish Power Hardship Fund
• Ovo Debt and energy assistance

When you apply for a grant, you'll be asked to provide detailed information about your financial situation. The Citizens Advice service may be able to help you with your application.

Some of these organisations may also ask for evidence of what steps you've already taken to try to manage your energy bills, such as speaking to Citizens Advice, or agencies like Turn2Us.

Many providers offer social tariffs to help people struggling to afford broadband or phone services.

What are social tariffs?

They are cheaper broadband and phone packages for people receiving Universal Credit, Pension Credit or other benefits. They may also be called ‘essential’ or ‘basic’ broadband.

They’re delivered in the same way as normal packages, just at a lower price. Find out more at www.ofcom.org.uk/social-tariffs

Severn Trent Water customers may be able to save up to 70% of your water bill by applying to their ‘Big Difference’ scheme.

Eligibility is based on your household income.

You can find more information and apply on the Severn Trent Big Difference website

Anglian Water have lots of measures in place for those who might be struggling to pay, from special tariffs to short-term support.

Reduced tariffs

Anglian water offer LITE and Extra LITE tariffs to customers on a low disposable income who are struggling to pay their water bill. Based on your individual situation you could get a discount of up to 50% on your water and sewerage charges by switching to one of these tariffs.

Find out more about these tariffs

Extra Care Support

Anglian Water also offer an Extra Care Support service – where they create a personalised plan for you to manage your water payments. This may include switching tariffs, setting up an affordable payment plan, a payment break (breathing space) or support through the Anglian Water Assistance Fund.

Find out more about Extra Care Support

Big Community Switch is a free scheme that could help you save money on your energy bills.

What is Big Community Switch?

Collective energy switching uses the bargaining power of a large group of people to get a competitive offer for you. Big Community Switch is coordinated by iChooser.

How does it work?

It’s a free service and open to anyone in the UK.

• They invite pre-vetted energy suppliers to an energy auction where they compete to offer you the lowest energy tariff.
• Suppliers bid against each other until they have the lowest bid.
• You’ll then be sent a personal offer. There’s no obligation to accept the offer
• If you do accept, and choose to switch energy supplier, they will handle the entire switching process for you.

The scheme runs continually with auctions several times a year.

How do you get involved?

To get involved, you’ll need to sign-up on the Big Community Switch website.

You’ll need to provide your contact details, the name of your energy supplier and details of your current energy usage and tariff.

Find out more on the Big Community Switch website

Scope offers a free energy and water advice service for disabled people.

Their expert advisers can help and talk you through a wide range of topics related to your energy and water needs, including:

• managing energy and water debt
• switching tariffs or supplier
• energy and water efficiency
• accessing benefits, grants, and trusts
• free fuel vouchers (conditions apply)
• contacting or complaining to your supplier
• understanding your gas and electricity bills
• support registering with the Priority Services Register

Apply online for personalised support:

www.scope.org.uk/disability-energy-support
Tel: 0808 801 0828
Email: Disability.EnergySupport@scope.org.uk

Visit our heating page for useful information to help you use your heating most efficiently:

• air source heat pumps
• combi boilers
• storage heaters