British Gas offers grant to wipe out Britons' energy debt - even if you're not a customer

A number of energy suppliers are offering support to help customers with their energy debt.

The British Gas Energy Trust has now offered to support people in England, Scotland and Wales clear outstanding debts on a current or open gas, electricity or dual energy account.

To be eligible, the account must be in the person’s name or a person in their household and must relate to their main residence.

It’s only available for people who do not have savings in excess of £1,000 and who have received advice from a money advice group.

Individuals are told to use the Bounce Back Checklist to assess if they are able to apply and what support they can claim for to help with payments during the cost-of-living crisis.

After this they should speak to local advice centres for support on their situation.

Once this is done, they can approach British Gas directly to see if they are eligible for a grant.

The website says: “Some energy providers have their own customer trust fund, so check with your own supplier to see if they can support you first.

Many suppliers offer payment plans to help individuals pay off their debts over time.

These plans typically involve setting up a schedule of smaller payments that are more manageable than the regular bill amount.

It's important to contact the supplier as soon as possible to discuss options and avoid late or missed payments, which could lead to additional fees and interest charges.

Further support from the government is on the way, with low-income Brits being given a £900 cost-of-living payment over the coming financial year.

The first of three instalments of £300 is expected in spring 2023.