The government launched an online portal on 7 March 2023 for heating oil customers to claim the £200 alternative fuel payment, according to the trade body UKIFDA1. The portal is for households that did not receive the payment automatically through their electricity account1.
Applicants need proof of address, bank account details, and proof of heating oil purchases worth £200 or more dated between September 2022 and the end of the application window on 31 May 20231. After checks, payments are made through the local authority1. The scheme sits alongside the wider closed energy bill support payments, which included the £400 discount and the alternative fuel payment.
"The government has launched the online alternative fuel payment portal for heating oil customers who have not received their £200 payment directly through their electricity account."
Households without online access can apply by phone. The contact centre helpline for Great Britain is 0808 1753943, and for Northern Ireland it is 0808 17538941. The helpline runs from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and a representative will guide applicants through the process1.
UKIFDA also warned about fraud, stating that no one will contact householders about the payment unless they contact the government first1. Households can read more on energy grant scams and fake government schemes.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Payment | £200 |
| Application window closes | 31 May 2023 |
| Purchase evidence required | £200 or more, dated September 2022 to 31 May 2023 |
| GB helpline | 0808 1753943 |
| NI helpline | 0808 1753894 |
| Helpline hours | 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday |
Why it matters for households
For homes off the gas grid, heating oil is bought in bulk and the cost is not covered by the standard electricity account discount in the same way. The £200 payment is a fixed sum, and it does not track the price paid for a fill. Households that did not receive it automatically had to apply, and the requirement for purchase evidence of £200 or more means the payment is tied to documented spending rather than to the property or the fuel type alone.
For a home's energy independence, the payment is a one-off contribution towards a fuel that must be bought, stored and managed on site. It does not change the running cost of an oil boiler or the efficiency of the building. Households weighing alternatives can read about closed home energy grants and the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive, both of which have closed to new applicants. The wider context of bills and self-sufficiency is covered in energy bills and energy independence.
What happens next
The application window closes on 31 May 20231. After that date, the portal and helplines are expected to close, and no further claims can be made. Payments are issued through local authorities after checks1. No further dates have been reported.