The British Gas Energy Trust reopened its largest energy debt fund on 1 October 2025, the same day energy bills rose by 2%, and said it was urging people in energy debt to seek support1.
The British Gas Energy Support Fund (ESF) offers grants to British Gas customers with up to £2,000 of debt on credit or prepayment meter accounts1. It complements the Trust's Individuals and Families Fund, which is already open and provides up to £1,700 to eligible customers of any energy supplier, if their supplier does not have its own scheme or they can show their application to that scheme was unsuccessful1.
Jessica Taplin, Chief Executive Officer of the Trust, said:
"Our focus is ensuring people can access support, so that no one has to choose between heating their home or meeting other essential needs this winter."
The Trust described one case, of a 49-year-old woman living alone in a mortgaged property, unable to work because of multiple health conditions and dependent on Universal Credit and standard rate PIP. It said she received money advice and made energy-saving changes, after which her finances showed she could manage future energy costs, and she was awarded a £639 grant to clear her energy arrears1. She said: "I didn't know what to do about this debt, but the application was easy, and I can now focus on paying my winter bills without this worry."1
The two funds differ in who can apply and how much is available:
| Fund | Eligibility | Maximum grant |
|---|---|---|
| British Gas Energy Support Fund | British Gas customers with debt on credit or prepayment meter accounts | £2,000 |
| Individuals and Families Fund | Customers of any supplier, where the supplier has no scheme or an application to it was unsuccessful | £1,700 |
Source: British Gas Energy Trust1
The Trust has not reported the total value of the reopened fund, how many grants it expects to make, or the closing date for applications1.
Why it matters for households
The 2% rise in bills applies to households across the market, but the reopened fund reaches only British Gas customers, so eligibility depends on who supplies a home rather than on the size of the debt alone1. For those customers, a grant of up to £2,000 clears arrears rather than spreading them over future bills, which changes the starting point for the year ahead. Households with other suppliers have the narrower route through the Individuals and Families Fund, and only where their own supplier offers nothing or has already turned an application down1. Debt cleared in this way does not reduce a home's consumption or its exposure to the next price change, so the underlying position on energy bills and energy independence is unchanged. The wider context of help with energy bills and debt in England, and the separate arrangements in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, is set out elsewhere on this site.
What happens next
The Trust has not reported a closing date for the ESF or for the Individuals and Families Fund1. Applications are made through the Trust's grants pages1.
Sources1 cited
- British Gas Energy Trust support fund reopens amid 2% price cap hike - British Gas Energy Trust, britishgasenergytrust.org.uk