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Grants to help clear Gas (and other) Debt

I posted this in the utilities board but thought the information would be of some help to you here too.


http://www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/grants/index.htm

Who can apply?

To be able to apply to the Trust Fund, you must be a domestic customer of British Gas or Scottish Gas.
If you live in a home which is supplied by British Gas or Scottish Gas but you are not the account holder e.g. a lodger who pays gas or electricity as part of their rent, you can still apply to the Trust for help with other household bills or costs (evidence will be required that the household receives its energy from British Gas or Scottish Gas).
ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR ANY OTHER TRUSTS?
The British Gas Energy Trust is part of a Shared Programme and it is possible that you are eligible to apply to other Trusts. For information on the other Trusts and who can apply to them, please click here.

How can the Trust help?

The Trust can help you with:
  • arrears of domestic gas/electricity charges
  • other essential domestic bills and costs. You can apply for such help even if you do not apply for help with your gas/electricity charges
The Trust cannot give you a loan or give you help with bills you have already paid or items you have already bought.
The Trust cannot help you with the following:
  • Fines for criminal offences
  • Overpayments of benefits
  • Educational or training needs
  • Business debts
  • Debts to central government departments e.g. tax and national insurance
  • Catalogues, credit cards, personal loans and other forms of non-secured lending
  • Medical equipment, aids and adaptations
  • Deposits to secure accommodation
  • Holidays
How to apply for help

If you would like to apply to us for help, you will need to fill in our application form.
If you are asking for help with your gas/electricity charges, we will contact the company to confirm how much you owe them.
You can apply online by clicking here. When we receive your online application we will acknowledge by email to you, or to a third party if third party details are provided (eg if an agency is helping you apply). We will then contact you to ask you to provide any further information we need such as income proof.
You can download the form by clicking here and print off to post to us. If the print button on the toolbar will not work, right-click the mouse and click the print command on that menu.
If you would prefer us to send you an application form by post, click here.
If you think you may have difficulty in completing the application form, a local advice centre such as a Citizens Advice Bureau may be able to help you fill it in.
If you are applying by post, please send us proof of the amount of income you have and where it comes from e.g. wages, benefits, etc. If you are applying online we will contact you to ask you to provide such information.
When filling in the application form, please read page 10 carefully to see what information you need to send into us with your completed application. Don't forget to sign the application form on page 10 - if the form is not signed we cannot assess your application.
Sending in your application
Once you have completed and signed your application, you should send the form and necessary information about your income, medical condition, etc. to:
FREEPOST BRITISH GAS ENERGY TRUST

Please don't write anything else on the envelope - there is no need to put a stamp on.

How will we deal with your application?

When we receive your application, we will send you a letter or email. This will either say:
  • that you have sent us everything we need and that we are able to assess your application, or
  • there is something missing or the information is unclear. Once you send us the information or explain the situation, we will then begin to assess your application.
If you are asking for help with your gas/electricity charges, we will contact the company so that they can confirm how much you owe.
If, whilst we are assessing your application, we believe we need more information from you, we will contact you.

How will you know if you have been successful?

If we are able to help you with your gas/electricity charges, a payment will be made directly to the company. We will contact you to you to let you know that the payment is being made.
If you are asking for help with other bills and costs and we are able to help, we will contact you to tell you this and will provide a cheque for the supplier which can only be used for that purpose.
If we are unable to help you with either kind of payment, we will contact you to tell you this.

How often can you apply to the Trust?

If you receive an award from the Trust, you cannot reapply to the Fund for two years.
If you do not receive an award from the Trust, you can apply again after six months.

Can I find out why my application was unsuccessful?


We regret that the Trust cannot disclose to applicants why applications are unsuccessful. However, the following may give you some guidance on why we are unable to help everyone.
The Trust Fund does not always have enough money to help everyone who applies with everything they ask for.
  • This means that we cannot always help everyone and Trust staff have to make very difficult decisions about who they can help.
The Trust needs to be sure how the debts have arisen
  • Where applicants are looking for help with gas/electricity charges, the Trust will always look for a full explanation of how the arrears have arisen.
  • Sometimes applicants do not fully explain how the arrears have come about. It is difficult for the Trust to consider making a payment if it cannot see how the arrears have arisen.
  • Similarly, where it is a bill like rent, water or sewerage, the Trust will need to understand how and why the arrears have built up.
The Trust wants to try to make a long-term difference.
  • Sometimes the application shows that applicants have considerably more money going out than they have coming in.
  • In such cases, the Trust is unlikely to make a payment since it looks likely that the applicant will get into difficulties again with the same bills.
  • In cases like these, the Trust will usually suggest that an applicant gets money advice from an agency like Citizens Advice to help them sort out their finances.
  • Once a person's financial situation is more stable, we would encourage them to apply again to the Fund for help after six months if they did not received any award in the first place.

Comments

  • meerustar
    meerustar Posts: 8,560 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Bumped for those who may have missed it today.
  • chevalier
    chevalier Posts: 7,937 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    thanks for this, I hope some of the newbies notice it as some has gas arrears
    chev
    I want a job that is less than an hour driving away from my house! Are you listening universe?
This discussion has been closed.
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