All the energy bill help you can get on a prepayment meter as record numbers cut themselves off

A RECORD number of households have cut themselves off from energy supplies as they are unable to afford to top up.

Over 4million homes are on prepayment meters where they pay for the energy they use at the time, rather than being billed later on.

With pay-as-you-go you top up gas and electric using a key, card or app.

Those on prepayment meters are often among the lowest income households, and they can end up paying more than those on a standard meter.

Now so called self-disconnections have hit a record high, according to Citizen’s Advice, after energy prices shot up a the start of the month.

The energy price cap went up by 54% from April 1 pushing up bills by hundreds of pounds for millions of families.

Customers with prepayment meters have gas and electric prices capped at £2,107, compared to £1,309 before prices went up, but the exact amount depends on individual usage.

Within four weeks of the increase the charity said it has seen 1,300 cases of people choosing to go without power, the BBC reports, compared to just 162 in the same period last year.

And the number of people calling the charity’s advice service saying they are unable to pay has already overtaken figures for the whole of 2021.

Citizen’s Advice boss Claire Moriarty told the BBC self-disconnection can have “devastating consequences”, leaving parents without hot water to give their kids a bath, families sleeping in coats and those with chronic illnesses unable to keep warm.

She said: “The warning lights could not be flashing brighter and the worst is yet to come. The government must bring in more support to help people cope with this mounting crisis.”

Customers who self-disconnect by choosing not to top up also face building up debts.

Energy use is made up of two parts, usage and the standing charge.

Even when you’re not using any gas or electric there’s a daily flat fee known as the standing charge.

You still need to pay this on a prepayment meter even if you don’t use any gas or electric.

When you do eventually top up, your credit will have to cover the standing charge costs that have built up.

Citizen’s advice says the amount depends on where you live and what tariff and supplier you have, but is usually around 28p a day.

Your first step, if you’re struggling, should be to contact your energy supplier.

There are a number of ways they can help, plus other support you might be entitled to – here’s what you could get.

Fuel vouchers

If you’re on a prepayment meter you might be able to get a one-off voucher to top up.

Andy Shaw from Stepchange previously told The Sun: “Energy suppliers are able to provide people with vouchers that they can use for their meters.

“You can also get them through some food banks and other local support organisations and the eligibility criteria is usually the same – you’ll need to have been been referred by an advice provider, GP or similar.”

The fuel voucher scheme comes via the Fuel Bank Foundation charity, and it’s offered through a range of organisations, like food banks and Citizens Advice.

The best place to start to find somewhere which can offer you a fuel voucher is by asking your local council – you can find yours via gov.uk by searching your postcode.

If you’re still not sure if you can get a voucher, you can get help from an adviser, Citizens Advice says.

The voucher should help you cover around two weeks worth of electricity use.

Some energy companies may also issue their own vouchers, so ask your supplier directly.

You won’t have to pay back the money.

Emergency credit

Energy companies usually offer emergency credit, though you will have to pay this back.

British Gas recently doubled the amount customers can get in an emergency due to the cost of living crisis.

The supplier said households with a top up key or card will now be able to go £10 into debt before they’re cut off.

Smart meter customers will still have a £5 limit, but the company is looking to roll the increase out to these households too.

How much you get and hos it’s applied will depend on who your supplier is.

It might be added to your meter when you fall below a certain amount or you might have to ask for it.

You might get extra if you are vulnerable, for example if you have a health condition or are over state pension age.

You’ll have to repay the cash next time you top up, but you can speak to your supplier about how much you’ll pay back and over what time.

Supplier funds and grants

Suppliers also offer grants and extra cash through charitable funds.

You could get money through this if you’re struggling and you won’t have to pay it back.

For example, British Gas and Octopus both have funds to help households who are struggling to pay.

What’s available depends on your supplier, and not all offer them while others may have closed applications due to high demand.

Other grants

Other organisations including charities can also help you pay some or all of your bill, or pay off arrears.

There are around 8,000 charities and organisations in the UK that offer cash to help struggling families.

Turn2Us has a free grants search tool so you can find out what help is available to you.

Cancer charity Macmillan recently made an extra £3.5million of grants available to those living with cancer.

It’s also worth checking you’re getting all the benefit’s you’re entitled to, especially if you’ve had a change of circumstances.

The quickest way to see what benefits you may be able to claim is to use one of the three benefit calculators recommended by Gov.uk.

Each one is free to use. They are: 

Household support fund

Local councils are giving out cash top help households struggling with bills and other essential costs.

How much you can get depends on where you live. The scheme was extended in March, so if you missed out last time, you’ve got another chance to apply.

For instance Runnymede council in Surrey was giving out £150 through the household support fund earlier this year.

To see what’s available where you are, and to apply, you’ll need to check your local council.

You can search for yours using the search tool on gov.uk – just enter your postcode.

Local councils also offer welfare assistance schemes all year round that can help you with bills.

Council tax discount

Around 80% of households will get a £150 council tax rebate to help with the rising cost of energy bills.

You will be eligible if you live in a property in council tax bands A to D.

If you pay your bill by direct debit, your local authority will automatically make the payment to your account from this month.

It will usually be paid after you’ve settled your council tax bill for April, so the exact date will vary.

If you pay by another method, you might have to apply for the cash.

For those not eligible a separate £144million fund has also been launched which local councils can dish out to vulnerable and low income households.

Some councils have already opened applications for the cash, but others have yet to launch the discretionary scheme.

You can check with your local council directly to find out how to get either payment where you are.

Energy bill rebate

The government has announced the every single household will get a £200 discount on their energy bill later this year.

This is part of a package of support designed to help Brits struggling as costs rise and will be applied automatically, but not until October.

The money does have to be paid back, but it will be in the form of £40 added to annual bills over five years from next year.

Martin Lewis has explained how the scheme will work and that it’s more like a levy than a loan – here’s what he said.

Prepayment meter customers will get the discount but the government has not yet said how it will work.

Warm home discount scheme

You can get £150 off your energy bills with the Warm Home Discount scheme, which will open for applications later this year.

It was previously worth £140 but has been boosted by £10 for the next batch of payments.

The scheme is currently closed but you should keep an eye out for it launches again later in 2022.

Anyone on pension credit gets the bill discount automatically.

Others who are eligible because they are on a low income need to apply and this can include those on Universal Credit.

You will have to make a claim to your supplier. Keep an eye out for when applications open from August.

Cold weather payment

When temperatures plummet those in low income households can get a £25 payment.

These cold weather payments have already been made in several locations where residents have experienced below zero weather.

The payment is made automatically, including to those on Universal Credit, for each seven day period of low temperatures between November 1 and March 31.

In the coldest areas three £25 payments have been made so far this winter, adding up to £75 in total.

See if your postcode has qualified for a payment and make sure you got it if you were eligible.