The British Gas Energy Trust reopened its Individuals and Families Fund (I&F) on 1 August 2025. The fund provides up to £1,700 to households struggling with energy debt on a prepayment or credit account1. It is open to eligible customers of any energy supplier, provided that supplier does not have its own support scheme1.
The Trust said the reopening comes as debt levels across the UK have reached £4.15bn, up from £3.31bn at the same time last year1. In the previous year, the fund helped 2,051 people across Britain and wrote off more than £945,000 of debt1.
"We're pleased to announce the reopening of our Individuals and Families Fund to both credit and prepayment meter account holders, as we know just how important it is."
The Trust also funds more than 40 money and energy advice projects in community-based charities and social enterprises across Britain, covering budget planning, benefits and income maximisation checks, energy efficiency measures and subjects such as housing, employment and mental health support1. One applicant, identified only as Marie, a 53-year-old living alone on a mortgage who had stopped working because of ill health, was awarded a grant of £1,5581.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Maximum grant | £1,700 |
| Accounts covered | Prepayment or credit |
| Suppliers covered | Any supplier without its own support scheme |
| Debt written off last year | More than £945,000 |
| People helped last year | 2,051 |
Why it matters for households
Energy debt is the point at which a household's bills stop being a budgeting problem and start being a barrier to staying connected and warm. A grant that clears arrears on a prepayment meter or a credit account removes that barrier without adding to future bills, which is different in kind from a payment plan that spreads the same debt over more months. For a household trying to hold its energy position independently, clearing arrears restores the ability to choose a tariff, switch payment method or take on energy efficiency measures without the debt following it.
The supplier condition matters. Households with a supplier that runs its own scheme fall outside I&F and must look to that scheme instead, so eligibility depends on who bills the home rather than on the size of the debt alone. The wider context is a debt total that has risen from £3.31bn to £4.15bn year on year1, which indicates the fund addresses a small share of a growing problem. Households in England can also look to crisis and hardship funds and to help with energy bills and debt more broadly, and the Trust's own schemes are set out in the guide to the British Gas Energy Trust.
What happens next
The Trust has not reported a closing date for the reopened fund, nor any change to the application process beyond the reopening itself. The page carrying the announcement notes that it has not been updated in a while and that some details may no longer be accurate, directing readers to the Trust's support pages for current information1. No figures have been reported for how many grants the Trust expects to make or how much it expects to distribute in the coming year.
Sources1 cited
- British Gas Energy Trust reopens energy grant fund for customers across different suppliers - British Gas Energy Trust, britishgasenergytrust.org.uk