The Government has also announced the Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) which is a £200 support payment for households that use fuels other than gas to heat their homes, such as oil, solid fuel, biomass, or bottled gas. Much of the delivery of this scheme will happen through energy suppliers, with eligible households being paid automatically via their electricity accounts in February. Payments should start on 6 February 2023 and no further action will be required by the household.

As with the EBSS, although automated payments can be made to approximately 90% of eligible households, a small group will need to apply to receive the Alternative Fuel Payment Alternative Fund (AFP Alternative Fund) using the same Gov.uk portal as the EBSS-Alternative Funding scheme.

Further information on this scheme is due to be issued with the application portal planned to go live on 6 March 2023.

Where the eligibility criteria are met it is possible to receive both the £400 EBSS-Alternative Funding and £200 Alternative Fuel Payment.

The free phone telephone number for the DESNZ call centre is 0808 175 3287. The contact centre is open Monday to Friday, 08.00 to 18.00.