Help with energy bills if you're affected by terminal illness

If you're living with a terminal illness, you could be eligible for some financial support with your energy bills and the cost of living. You could also get help with your energy bills if you're caring for someone with a terminal illness.

On this page:

Speak with Marie Curie Energy Support Officers

If you would find it helpful to talk to someone, call the Marie Curie Support Line free on 0800 090 2309 and ask to speak with our Energy Support Officers. They can give you expert information on things like supplier-specific support, grants, and energy efficiency updates. They can also talk through the support we mention on this page.

Winter Fuel Payment (UK-wide)

The Winter Fuel Payment is a tax-free amount paid once a year to help with your heating bills. How much you get depends on your circumstances.

It's currently available across the UK. In Scotland, Winter Fuel Payments will be replaced in winter 2024-25.

Winter Fuel Payment is not means-tested. This means whether you can get it and how much you get, is not affected by your income, savings or investments. It will not affect any other benefits you may get.

Find out more about Winter Fuel Payment at GOV.UK.  

Cold Weather Payment (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)

Cold Weather Payments are tax-free payments for when the weather drops below a certain temperature. You usually need to be claiming certain benefits to qualify.

It's currently available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Cold Weather Payments do not affect any other benefits you may get.

Visit GOV.UK for more information about Cold Weather Payment.  

Winter Heating Payment (Scotland)

In Scotland, the Winter Heating Payment replaced the Cold Weather Payment from February 2023. It is an annual payment of £50 for people on certain benefits. If you are eligible, you do not need to apply.

Winter Heating Payments do not affect any other benefits you may get.

Visit mygov.scot for more information about the Winter Heating Payment.  

Warm Home Discount (England, Scotland and Wales)

Some energy suppliers offer a Warm Home Discount Scheme. This is a one-off discount on your energy bill – the money is not paid to you. If you are eligible, your energy company will let you know.

The scheme in Scotland works slightly differently to the scheme in England and Wales. The Warm Home Discount Scheme is not available in Northern Ireland.

Find out more about the Warm Home Discount Scheme at GOV.UK.  

Energy grants, benefits, and other financial help

Energy grants

• England and Wales: Visit GOV.UK   to find energy grants and ways to save energy in your home.
• Scotland: Visit mygov.scot   for information about other benefits, grants and loans to help with energy bills.
• Wales: Visit the Nest website   or call Freephone 0808 808 2244 for information about the Nest scheme, which provides free energy efficiency improvements to eligible households.
• Northern Ireland: Visit nidirect   or call Freephone 0800 111 4455 to find energy saving grants in your area.

You might be able to get other grants too. Read more about grants for people affected by terminal illness.

Fuel vouchers (England, Scotland and Wales)

If you cannot afford to top up your prepayment meter, you might be able to get a fuel voucher. Your local council or food bank may be able to help you get a fuel voucher. Visit GOV.UK to find your local council.  

You could also get a fuel voucher if you do not use gas or electricity for your heating and you meet certain criteria – contact Citizens Advice for more information.  

Fuel vouchers are not available in Northern Ireland. If you live in Northern Ireland, other ways you can get help are explained throughout this page.

Cost of living grants and support

Across the UK, councils and local governments have schemes that can offer financial grants and support for people in specific circumstances. These grants can usually be used to help with things like energy and water bills, food, clothing and other costs.

The links below have more information about the grants, including how to apply:

• England – Household Support Fund  
• Scotland – Scottish Welfare Fund  
• Wales – Discretionary Assistance Fund  
• Northern Ireland – Finance Support Service  

Benefits

You could be eligible for other financial help such as benefits. If you're not sure what you're entitled to, read our information on benefits for people affected by terminal illness or try our benefits calculator.

If you're having trouble paying bills, you could have some of them paid directly out of certain benefits payments. This includes rent, service charges, fuel or water bills. Visit GOV.UK for more information about paying bills out of your benefits payments.  

Electricity refund if you use an oxygen concentrator

If you use an oxygen concentrator (a machine that plugs in) for your home oxygen therapy, you can get a refund for the electricity it uses. The company that provides your oxygen concentrator can make payments to your bank account. Contact your supplier to find out how to claim these payments:

• Dolby Vivisol Home Respiratory Care  
• BOC Home Oxygen Service  
• Air Liquide Healthcare  
• Baywater Healthcare.  

The Priority Services Register in England, Scotland and Wales

The Priority Services Register is a free support service offered by energy and water suppliers in England, Scotland and Wales. It's for people who could be vulnerable, for example if you have a terminal illness.

You could get extra help such as priority support in an emergency, and free gas safety checks if you also claim certain benefits. You could also get notice of planned power cuts if you rely on your energy supply for medical reasons.

To sign up for the Priority Services Register:

1. Contact the gas, electricity and water company you use – you or someone close to you could do this.
2. Give them your contact details.
3. Give them as much information as you can about your situation – for example, if you struggle to keep warm due to illness or are using electricity for medical equipment.

Or you can sign up online, depending on:

• where you live in the UK
• whether you are signing up for gas and electricity supply support, or water supply support.

Here's how to sign up online for the Priority Services Register:

Gas or electricity

England and Wales

Visit thepsr.co.uk to find your energy company and sign up for the Priority Services Register.  

Scotland

Visit psrscotland.com to find your water company and sign up for the Priority Services Register.  

Water

England and Wales

You have to contact your water company. Some companies will have the option for you to sign up online. Find your water company on the CCW website  .

Scotland

Visit psrscotland.com to find your water company and sign up for the Priority Services Register.  

The Customer Care Register in Northern Ireland

The Customer Care Register is the Northern Ireland equivalent of the Priority Services Register. It means you can get extra support if:

• you're of state pension age or
• you have a disability – for example, being blind, partially sighted, deaf or have hearing loss or
• you're chronically sick, including living with a terminal illness.

Being on the Customer Care Register means your details are a priority for your energy company. For example, you'll be contacted ahead of time about planned energy outages (if energy will be switched off for a period of time).

There is also a Medical Customer Care Register. This Register is for people who rely on electricity for their healthcare needs – for example, for equipment.

Visit the Utility Regulator website to find your electricity, gas or water company.  

How to sign up for the Customer Care Register

Gas or electricity

1. Contact the gas and electricity company you use – you or someone close to you could do this.
2. Give them your contact details.
3. Give them as much information as you can about your situation – for example, if you struggle to keep warm due to illness or are using electricity for medical equipment.

or

Visit the Northern Ireland Energy Networks website to sign up for the electricity Medical Customer Care Register.  

Water

1. Contact the water company you use – you or someone close to you could do this.
2. Give them your contact details.
3. Give them as much information as you can about your situation.

or

Visit the Northern Ireland Water website to sign up for the water Customer Care Register.  

Support from your energy company and other help

Help from your energy supplier

Contact your energy supplier if you're worried about being able to afford your energy bills, or you cannot afford to top up your meter. Your supplier should take your circumstances into account and offer help. Visit Citizens Advice   for more information on contacting your energy supplier, or nidirect  if you live in Northern Ireland.

You could get help with energy saving improvements to your home through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). Visit GOV.UK   for more information about the ECO scheme, or contact your energy supplier.

If there's a power cut

If you live in England, Scotland or Wales and you have a power cut, call 105. It's free to call and will put you through to your local network operator, who can give you help and advice. Visit Power Cut 105 for information on what to do in a power cut, and to find your network operator.   

If you live in Northern Ireland and you have a power cut, call 03457 643 643. Visit Northern Ireland Electricity Networks for more information about what to do in a power cut.  

Lowering your energy bills

There are some things you can do which could help to lower the cost of your energy bills:

• You can make small changes to use less energy – visit Energy Saving Trust for tips on how to save energy and lower your bills.  
• Switching your energy supplier can sometimes reduce your energy bills. It's important to get information and advice before you switch. Citizens Advice   have a guide on changing energy suppliers, or if you live in Northern Ireland visit the Consumer Council.  

Where to get more information and advice

Call the Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309 for general information about benefits and finances, or speak to our Energy Support Officers for dedicated information, support and practical guidance on the cost of energy bills for people affected by terminal illness. This includes information on benefits, supplier-specific support, grants and energy efficiency updates.

Organisations that give help and advice on energy bills:

• National Energy Action   provides advice and support to people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland struggling to heat their homes affordably. Energy Action Scotland   is their sister charity.
• British Gas Energy Trust   help families and individuals who are struggling to pay their energy bills across England, Wales and Scotland, no matter which energy company you are with.
• Energy Saving Trust   provides information and advice about making your home more energy efficient, reducing your carbon emissions and lowering your energy bills.
• Groundwork   have a Green Doctor service that offers free, impartial advice to help you take control of your bills, save energy where possible, and access other services available.
• Macmillan Cancer Support   has specialist Energy Advisers you can speak to, and provides practical, medical and financial support for people affected by cancer. They have information about support with the cost of living for people with cancer.
• Scope  provide practical information and emotional support for anyone with a learning disability or physical impairment in England and Wales. This includes a Disability Energy Support service where they offer free energy and water advice to disabled people.

Other organisations that can help:

• Citizens Advice   has trained advisers you can speak to and provides information on your rights, including benefits, housing, employment, debt, consumer and legal issues. Search the site for your nearest bureau in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
• Ofgem  is Great Britain's independent energy regulator. They have guidance to help people understand what they're entitled to, and advice on saving money on your energy bills.

Useful web pages

GOV.UK – Help for Households, including support with energy bills and household costs  

mygov.scot – Help with energy bills  

The Consumer Council (Northern Ireland) – saving money on your energy bills  

nidirect – advice if you're struggling to pay your energy bills in Northern Ireland