According to Age UK, almost 80% of eligible individuals did not receive the £400 energy bill aid provided by the Government. This amounts to over half a million homes missing out on the funds allocated through the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Fund (EBSS AF). The scheme was designed to assist households that do not have direct control over their mains electricity or gas, such as elderly individuals in care homes, those living in assisted living facilities, traveler camps, and tenants with all-inclusive rents.
Unlike other Government energy bill assistance programs, the EBSS AF requires individuals to actively claim the funds, rather than receiving automatic payouts. Freedom of Information requests from Age UK reveal that only 17% of eligible households have actually claimed the money they are entitled to. As a result, there is £300 million of unspent funds, with only 150,000 out of 883,000 eligible homes receiving the assistance.
Of those eligible for the £400, care home residents were the least likely to receive the aid, with only around 7% of them actually getting the money. In contrast, approximately 35% of park home and houseboat residents, as well as 58% of eligible heat network users, received the assistance. Age UK is urging the Government to simplify the application process to increase the number of households benefiting from the aid.
Caroline Abrahams, the charity director at Age UK, expressed concern over the lack of distribution of funds, stating that most older people who rely on indirect energy sources did not receive the money they were entitled to. She highlights the ongoing need for additional funding and urges the Government to make efforts to ensure that all eligible individuals receive the assistance.
For individuals who are elderly, living on a low income, or struggling with their bills, Age UK encourages them to reach out for support and guidance. They can contact Age UK’s free advice line or visit their website for further information. The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Fund closed at the end of May, and the Government advises households that did not apply to explore other available support options.
In response to the issue, a Government spokesperson emphasized that they have already allocated billions to protect families during periods of rising energy prices. The spokesperson also highlighted the various communication channels used to inform eligible households about the scheme and encourage them to apply, including a contact center and written notifications to care homes and park home sites. The spokesperson recommends that households who have not applied for the aid visit the Government’s webpage to explore other support options they may be eligible for.
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