March 2023 update: Government launches secure online portal for alternative fuel payments!
We're pleased to be able to advise you that the government has now provided more detail on the £200 Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP), due to be paid to off-grid households. The payment will provide households throughout the UK who are off-grid with welcome support with their winter heating oil and LPG bills.
And the great news is we can expect the payment very shortly. Earlier this week, it was announced that the £200 payment to customers who use alternative fuels such as domestic heating oil and LPG, and who have been identified using an off the gas grid database and recent census information, will start to be processed from February 6th 2023.
How will I receive the payment?
In the vast majority of cases, you do not need to do anything. The majority of customers will receive their £200 automatically via their electricity supplier, NOT their heating oil or LPG supplier, starting on February 6th, in a similar fashion to other recent government payments (direct debit, credit to account, or voucher, dependent on your electricity supplier).
What if I do not have an electricity supplier?
There will be a very small number of exceptions to the payments being received automatically, for example for customers that don't have an electricity account, or for those that use heating oil or LPG but live in a mains gas area. These customers will need to apply via an online portal which will be open in February alongside a postcode checker.
UKIFDA (UK and Ireland Fuels Distributors Association) has issued a statement advising they expect further information closer to 6th February, and we will continue to provide updates as and when received.
Read our blog for help and advise on how to reduce heat loss at home, or visit the government website if you would like more information about what support is available to help with the cost of living.
Any more updates?
Check back here for more recent updates, we will update this blog with links to more up to date information.
- March 2023: The energy price cap has fallen, but bills will still rise. What’s going on?
- January 2023: Update on the government support for off-grid households
- January 2023: Update on the government's domestic alternative fuel payment