British Gas Offers £2,000 Payments to Customers Starting October 1

British Gas customers will have the opportunity to receive payments of up to £2,000 into their energy accounts starting on October 1, 2023. This initiative is part of the reopening of the British Gas Energy Support Fund, which aims to assist households facing financial difficulties in managing their energy bills.

The support is available to both credit and prepayment meter customers who are struggling to pay their bills or manage existing energy debt. As energy costs continue to rise, with the energy regulator Ofgem increasing its price cap from £1,720 to £1,755 per year for typical households, this fund aims to provide crucial relief just in time for the winter months.

Eligibility and Application Process

To qualify for this assistance, customers must have previously sought guidance or advice regarding their energy debts. The application process will take approximately six weeks, and successful applicants will see the payment credited to their energy account as a bill adjustment.

Eligible customers must be current British Gas customers and should not have received a grant from the fund within the past twelve months. Prepayment customers need to have a debt between £50 and £2,000, while credit account customers must have debts ranging from £250 to £2,000. Applications from customers with debts exceeding £2,000 will not be accepted.

The British Gas Energy Trust emphasizes that they prioritize applications from individuals who can demonstrate a sustainable financial position moving forward. They state that “it is rarely in the person’s best interest to seek a debt write-off without addressing the underlying issue of a deficit budget.” As such, applications will only be considered under exceptional circumstances where a clear path to financial stability can be shown.

Guidance and Support

Furthermore, applicants are advised that if they are eligible for a Debt Relief Order (DRO), they may not be successful in their application, as there may be alternative methods available to manage their debt. The Trust has indicated that they expect applicants to have received comprehensive support from a money advice service to ensure that the guidance provided is both suitable and beneficial to their circumstances.

Those interested in applying can visit the British Gas Energy Trust’s website at https://bget.org.uk/login.php starting on Wednesday. This initiative represents a significant step towards supporting customers during a challenging period of rising energy costs, particularly as winter approaches.