Major energy supplier giving hard-up households up to £2,000 bill grant – are you one of thousands missing out?
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A MAJOR energy supplier is giving hard-up households up to £2,000 grants to cover bills - as new data reveals thousands are missing out. The help comes via the British Gas Energy Trust (BGET) - and you can apply even if you're not a British Gas customer.
![[Smart meter display, phone showing energy bill, and cash.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2y3yep3-energy-use-cost-concept-940063328.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Households in England, Wales and Scotland can sign up, if they're in energy debt or struggling financially. You can get up to £2,000 worth of energy debt wiped, depending on your circumstances. But new data from British Gas has revealed applications for the grants have almost halved compared to last winter.
The BGET received 3,518 applications between November 2023 and January 2024, but only 1,574 between last November and January 20. The latest round of funding is understood to be staying open until the start of summer so there's still time to apply. British Gas said it is sending 100,000 letters to households across the UK from Thursday reminding them they could be eligible for help.
The extra support could come in handy as well, with energy bills having risen for millions under the Ofgem price cap. The average household with typical usage has seen their bills rise from £1,717 a year to £1,738 a year, or 1.2%. The British Gas Energy Trust consists of two funds - the British Gas Energy Support Fund (ESF) and The Individual and Families Fund (IFF).
The major difference between the two is that the former is for British Gas customers only while the latter is also open to non-British Gas customers. Households applying to the British Gas Energy Support Fund can get up to £2,000 energy debt wiped while The Individual and Families Fund offers grants worth up to £1,700.
