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What to do if you're struggling to pay your energy bills

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in Energy
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This is the discussion thread for the What to do if you're struggling to pay your energy bills guide.
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This is the discussion thread for the What to do if you're struggling to pay your energy bills guide.
If you haven't already, join the forum to reply.
Thanks!
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I'm a little concerned about the £200 AFP payment, I received this today but I'm not on an alternative fuel. I use a heat pump for heating and am not connect to the gas grid, I'm aware this is not within the requirements set out by the government. Should I contact my supplier? Are they going to take the payment back off my meter?
Confused
As you've received the payment, your area meets those criteria and you are entitled to it. You won't be asked for it back - the government knew some of us would accidentally benefit without using alternative fuels by doing it this way rather than requiring individual applications from everyone, but the majority of those receiving it this way would be those using alternative fuels because of the requirement to be an area where the majority of heating is something other than electric.
Lots of threads on this board, with further info and explanation if you need it https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/lpg-heating-oil-solid-other-fuels
but also worth checking if you could get/are getting child benifit, council tax credit and wtc/ctc if you havent already. only takes a couple of mins. https://www.turn2us.org.uk/
and if your kids are old enough for you to feel comfortable then theres also the rent a room scheme which is something like £7k a year tax free.
It's amazing how those with a can-do attitude and willingness to 'pitch in and work' get all the luck, isn't it?
Please consider buying some pet food and giving it to your local food bank collection or animal charity. Animals aren't to blame for the cost of living crisis.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1130933/domestic-alternative-fuel-payment-scheme-suppliers-guidance.pdf
p.8
Census data on heating type. Provided by ONS and is used to identify the LSOAs that are eligible for automatic payments. BEIS will use this data to eliminate LSOAs that have been identified as predominantly having houses which heat their homes via electricity …
[People who use alternative fuels but have been excluded from the automatic payments either because their area does predominantly use electric forms of heating, or if they are in an area with mains gas, will have to apply through a gov.uk page next month.]