Alternative scheme open for households who missed £600 energy bill support payment

The Energy Bills Support Scheme NI (EBSS NI) has opened applications for a £600 payment that will support around 28,000 households in Northern Ireland. This payment is for those who missed out on the previous automatic £600 payment.

Eligibility for the Payment

The scheme is now open to all eligible households across Northern Ireland until 31 May 2023.

Households who are eligible to apply for the alternative £600 payment include: -

• Care home residents and care facility/sheltered accommodation residents
• Park home residents
• Houseboats and caravans
• Social and private tenants who pay for energy through a landlord on a non-domestic supply
• Homes on a heat network/private wire
• Off-grid homes
• Farmhouses used for domestic purposes

The application process

Households who think they could be eligible for the payment need to make an application online.

To reduce the chance of fraudulent applications, the government is asking that the link to the application portal not be shared online.

Instead, applicants should go to www.gov.uk and search for “Apply for energy bill support if you do not get it automatically in Northern Ireland”. This should bring applicants directly to the application form.

For eligible households who do not have access to the internet, they can call a helpline on 08081753894 to make an application over the phone.

Receiving the £600 payment

Once the application has been assessed and verified, payments will be made directly into the bank account provided in the application. The payment will be made in a single installment of £600.

If you or anybody you’re supporting have questions about this payment, contact our helpline:  

• by phone on 028 9024 5640, or  
• chat online to one of our advisers here.