The UK government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) has opened up new routes for funding, allowing thousands more households in Northern Ireland to benefit from £600 support for energy bills. Over 28,000 households who do not have a direct relationship with a domestic electricity supplier, such as those living in care homes or park homes, will be able to apply for support through the alternative funding (AF) route. The main roll-out of the energy support payments, which was delivered as a lump sum, reached the majority of households across Northern Ireland in January and February.
A new online government portal has been launched to make it easier for eligible households to apply for support. The application process has been refined following a successful pilot phase to ensure it can deliver support to households in a secure, efficient, and robust manner. A dedicated customer helpline is also available for eligible customers who do not have online access. However, the government has warned households to stay alert to potential scams and report them to relevant authorities if they are suspected.
Ministers are urging all eligible households to apply for their support as soon as possible, with the exact date of payment dependent on the application date. The application process is administered in Northern Ireland by the government’s contracted delivery partner, with payments delivered directly into bank accounts by the government’s finance delivery partner, UKSBS.
The alternative funding route is in place to ensure the same level of support reaches households without a direct relationship with an electricity supplier. Customers who have already received support automatically via their electricity supplier through the main Energy Bill Support Scheme Northern Ireland (EBSS NI) are not eligible for support under the alternative funding aspect of the scheme and do not need to apply.
These schemes are part of a range of targeted measures aimed at helping households across the UK with the cost of living. The UK government’s Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) is expected to save the average UK family £900 over the winter, while vulnerable households will receive direct payments, including the cost of living payments for pensioners, people receiving disability-related allowances, and those on means-tested benefits. The Household Support Fund will provide additional assistance to those most in need, and £26 billion worth of targeted support will help protect the most vulnerable over the next financial year.
The Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) has welcomed the news, stating that the intervention will provide much-needed support at a difficult time. NICVA members have reported the difficulties faced by vulnerable households and how hard the sector is working to help them.
Source: Gov[Dot]UK
