Help with energy and heating costs

If you are having cancer treatment, you may be at home more. You may need to turn up the heating to cope with side effects, such as weight loss, hair loss and tiredness. This means your energy bills may increase at a time when you may be unable to work or have a lower income.

Energy suppliers and the government run schemes that can help if you are struggling to pay your energy bills. The schemes available depend on where you live.

Talking to your energy supplier

If you are worried about paying your energy bills, talk to your supplier and find out what help they can offer. You can also visit their website. If you tell your supplier you have cancer, they may be able to give you extra support, for example through an energy saving scheme.

The rate you pay for your energy is called the tariff. There are usually fixed-rate tariffs and standard variable tariffs. Your supplier can explain what tariff you are on and advise if they have a cheaper alternative.

They can also look at what support is available if you fall into arrears. For example, they can explore alternative payment options to help you spread the cost. Or they can add you to their Priority Service register if you have someone vulnerable living in the household.

Changing your energy supplier can be an option, but you may need to consider the following before making a decision:

  • debt balance
  • exit fees
  • timing.

Fuel suppliers can reject a change in suppliers if you have a debt balance owing.

The Priority Services Register (England, Scotland and Wales)

If you are affected by cancer and live in England, Scotland or Wales, your supplier should put you on the Priority Services Register. This is a list of people who need extra support.

Some benefits of being on the register may include:

  • access to free extra services
  • notice of any planned power cuts and more help during power cuts
  • your energy not being switched off if you fall behind on payments
  • having someone come and help if you have difficulty giving a meter reading – for example, if you have mobility problems.

Care registers (Northern Ireland)

Northern Ireland Electricity Networks and Northern Ireland Water have critical care registers. These registers are for people who rely on electricity or water for their health needs. Customers on the registers get extra support if their power or water supply stops working.

Energy companies in Northern Ireland also have customer care registers. Customers who have a disability, older people or those with certain health needs can join these registers to get free extra services. Contact the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland to compare the extra services offered by different companies.

Regular payments and paperless bills

Your energy supplier may allow you to set up a regular payment plan. This means you pay a fixed amount on a regular basis. For example, you could pay every week or month. Regular payments can help you spread the cost of your energy bills and budget for them.

You could save money and keep track of your energy costs if you:

  • pay your bills monthly by direct debit
  • manage your energy account online with paperless bills.

Changing your energy supplier (switching)

Most fixed-energy deals last for 1 or 2 years. Your supplier may move you to their standard tariff when your deal ends. This may not be the cheapest option.

You should check you are on the best energy tariff about once a year. You often get the cheapest deals if you pay by direct debit or online. Using the same supplier for gas and electricity may also save money. This is called a dual-fuel deal.

Changing your energy supplier is also called switching. Before changing, you need to know:

  • how much energy you use
  • the name of your current tariff.

This information should be on a recent bill. When you change companies, your previous supplier will charge you for the energy you use until the date you change. Make sure you can afford this before you change companies.

Depending on which tariff you are on, your existing supplier may charge you a fee for changing. This is called an exit fee. Remember to ask your supplier about this before you change. You should consider any exit fee and work out if it would save you money to change supplier.

Switching energy supplier if you are a tenant

If you rent your home, check who is responsible for paying the gas and electricity bills. This should be in your tenancy agreement.

If you pay an energy company directly for your gas and electricity, you can choose your own supplier. This applies even if you have a prepayment meter.

Your tenancy agreement may say your landlord has a preferred supplier. You can still change supplier, but you should tell your landlord or letting agent.

If your landlord pays the energy company directly, they can choose the supplier. You can ask your landlord to change supplier, but they do not have to agree.

How to change supplier

There are 2 ways to find the best deal and change supplier.

Use a trusted energy price comparison website

In England, Scotland and Wales, some of these websites are approved by a scheme called the Confidence Code. You can find a list of recommended websites at Ofgem.

Citizens Advice has information to help you compare prices and a comparison tool.

In Northern Ireland, you can compare energy supplier rates on the Consumer Council website.

If you are a tenant, you can use a comparison website that considers the remaining length of your tenancy. This will help you get the best deal.

Phone different gas and electricity companies directly

You can ask energy companies for the best deal for you. They can organise the change.

If you get a payment called the Warm Home Discount, it is a good idea to check if the new supplier is part of this scheme before you change.

If you do not use a mains gas supply

It is a good idea to get several quotes for fuel if your home is not connected to a mains gas supply.

If you use heating oil, you may save money by stocking up on fuel early in autumn. This is often cheaper than waiting until winter. But make sure the delivery charge is not higher than your saving. You may also get discounts if you buy heating oil as part of a group, such as an oil club. You can find out if there are oil clubs near you.

To spread the cost, you could pay by direct debit or set up a monthly budget plan. Ask your heating oil supplier if they offer this.

If you use solid fuel or LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), it may also help to:

  • compare prices
  • stock up on fuel in the autumn
  • speak to your supplier if you are struggling to pay your bills.

Complaints and advice

If you have a problem with your energy supplier or need advice about dealing with a company, contact:

Try to resolve the complaint with the company if you can. If this is not possible, you could contact the Energy Ombudsman in England, Scotland and Wales, or the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland.

Government payments and grants for heating bills

There are several government payments to help you with higher bills during the winter months. You can find out how to apply for these at GOV.UK website or, if you live in Northern Ireland, nidirect.gov.uk. These links may also be helpful:

Winter Fuel Payment

This is a government scheme to help older people keep warm during winter. The scheme is changing in 2024.

It will still be available to eligible people. You must be over a certain age, live in England or Wales, and get certain means-tested benefits.

Find out more about the Winter Fuel Payment and check if you need to claim or call our Welfare Rights team on 0808 808 00 00.

Cold Weather Payment

If you get certain benefits, you may qualify for a Cold Weather Payment when a winter is very cold. This is available if the temperature is 0˚C (32˚F) or lower for 7 days in a row.

You get £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March. Cold Weather Payments are automatically made on top of your usual benefits. Eligibility may depend on where you live. If you are eligible, you do not need to apply. The money will be paid automatically.

If you live in Scotland, the cold weather payment is called Winter Heating Payment.

Warm Home Discount

This government policy helps vulnerable customers and people on a low income heat and insulate their homes. It gives certain people a one-off discount of £150 on their electricity bills between September and March.

All the main energy suppliers must give this discount. Some small suppliers also offer it. If your supplier provides both your gas and electricity, you may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead. Ask your supplier if this is possible.

If you are affected by cancer, you may get the Warm Home Discount. This depends on your circumstances and which supplier you use. To apply, contact your energy supplier. If your supplier does not give you the discount or does not offer it, you could consider changing your supplier.

To find out more, speak with your energy supplier or visit GOV.UK website for more information about the Warm Home Discount.

You can still apply for the discount if you have a prepayment or pay-as-you-go electricity meter. If you live in a park home, you can apply through the Park Homes Warm Home Discount.

Different areas of the UK have different criteria for qualifying for the Warm Home Discount:

  • England and Wales

    If you are on Pension Means-Tested Benefits, you will be automatically awarded the Warm Home Discount. If you are on Working-Age Means-Tested Benefits and have a house likely to feel the cold, you will also be automatically awarded this discount. There is no need to apply.

  • Scotland

    You automatically qualify for the Warm Home Discount if you get the Guarantee Credit part of the benefit Pension Credit. You can apply for the discount if you are on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria. You can only apply at certain times of the year when the scheme is open.

  • Northern Ireland

    Energy suppliers in Northern Ireland do not offer this discount. You may get financial help under the Affordable Warmth Scheme instead.

Fuel direct

If you get benefits and are struggling with energy or water bills, contact the Jobcentre Plus or your local pension centre. With your agreement, they may be able to arrange to pay these bills directly from your benefits by taking a fixed amount each month.

This scheme was paused in April 2022. This means that the suppliers cannot currently approach the Jobcentre Plus to arrange payments from your benefits. If you would like to pay your bills straight from your benefits, you will need to contact the Jobcentre Plus yourself to arrange it.

If you pay your bills under this scheme, you should not get any final payment demands from your supplier.

Charitable grants and other help

You may be able to get some financial help from Macmillan or other organisations.

Macmillan Grants

Some charities, including Macmillan, give small grants to people having difficulty paying their energy costs or other expenses.

Macmillan Grants are usually a one-off payment. You can apply for a Macmillan Grant by calling the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00Or you can apply through a health or social care professional or benefits adviser.

Learn more about Macmillan Grants.

Local help in an emergency

If you do not have enough money to meet your immediate, short-term needs or your family’s needs, you may be able to get emergency help. This is called welfare assistance. You may get vouchers or a prepaid card to pay for your energy.

How you apply depends on where you live:

  • In England, you can contact your local council to find out if they have a Local Welfare Assistance scheme.
  • In Scotland, you can contact your local council to apply for a Community Care Grant or a Crisis Grant.
  • In Wales, you can contact the Discretionary Assistance Fund to apply for an Individual Assistance Payment or an Emergency Assistance Payment. Call 0800 859 59 24 (free from a landline) or 033 0101 50 00 (charged at local rate).
  • In Northern Ireland, you can contact the Finance Support Service to apply for a Discretionary Support loan or grant. Call 0800 587 27 50.

Saving energy at home

There are lots of different ways of saving energy at home. This may include:

  • draught proofing and insulating your home
  • saving through having heating controls
  • schemes from the energy companies and from the government which can help with energy costs
  • keeping a check on your energy bills
  • using a smart meter to look at how you are using energy.

You can speak to your supplier about these, or to the following organisations:

We have more information about tips to help you save energy at home.

About our information

  • Reviewers

    Our financial information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by finance, housing and energy experts and people living with cancer. It has been approved by Amanda South, Macmillan Financial Guidance Service Manager.

    Our cancer information has been awarded the PIF TICK. Created by the Patient Information Forum, this quality mark shows we meet PIF’s 10 criteria for trustworthy health information.

The language we use

We want everyone affected by cancer to feel our information is written for them.

We want our information to be as clear as possible. To do this, we try to:

  • use plain English
  • explain medical words
  • use short sentences
  • use illustrations to explain text
  • structure the information clearly
  • make sure important points are clear.

We use gender-inclusive language and talk to our readers as ‘you’ so that everyone feels included. Where clinically necessary we use the terms ‘men’ and ‘women’ or ‘male’ and ‘female’. For example, we do so when talking about parts of the body or mentioning statistics or research about who is affected.

You can read more about how we produce our information here.

Date reviewed

Reviewed: 01 November 2022
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Next review: 01 November 2025
Trusted Information Creator - Patient Information Forum
Trusted Information Creator - Patient Information Forum

Our cancer information meets the PIF TICK quality mark.

This means it is easy to use, up-to-date and based on the latest evidence. Learn more about how we produce our information.