Help you can get from British Gas, EDF and Shell if…

Help you can get from British Gas, EDF and Shell if you're struggling to pay your energy bills

Major energy companies still have money on hand to help vulnerable families stay warm as the winter weather bites.

Millions of pounds worth in grants is available to give to households struggling to pay for their energy bills, and you can even apply to one - British Gas - whether you're a customer or not. The money could be vital for struggling households facing sharply-rising costs in the colder months. From April, prices will rise again by 20% on average under the Energy Price Guarantee, with a typical bill rising from £2,500 a year to £3,000 a year.

Many grants have already been paid out, but energy companies still have money - sometimes up to thousands of pounds - to support households experiencing financial difficulties.

In mid-December British Gas, for example, had £7.5 million still available to dish out, and Octopus had £15 million to be claimed. Meanwhile, EDF, E.on Next, Ovo, and Shell Energy told Money Saving Expert they all still had funds available - though they wouldn't give exact figures. Scottish Power and Utility Warehouse's grant schemes are also still open for applicants. Bulb, which was sold to Octopus Energy just before Christmas, is no longer taking new applications.

Whether your supplier offers support, who qualifies, and how much you'll get varies. Scottish Power, for example, requires people to be on certain benefits, while Utility Warehouse requires people to be in fuel poverty, or about to go into energy debt. Most suppliers require applicants to have spoken to a debt adviser such as StepChange before applying, complete an income and expenditure budgeting form, provide proof of income, give details of how arrears have built up, and detail how the grant will help them. Those deemed to have the greatest need are likely to be prioritised.

One supplier, British Gas, has a scheme open to all customers, regardless of whether they buy their energy from British Gas or not. The grant, from the British Gas Energy Trust, will pay up to £1,500 to households in In fuel debt of £250 or more and with no savings over £1,000. You can't apply if you have had a British Gas grant in the past two years. More details are here. British Gas also has a scheme specifically for its customers. More details are below.

British Gas

Name of fund: Energy Support Fund

Maximum payment: £1,500

Criteria to apply:

Can't have had British Gas grant in past 12 months
In fuel debt of £250 or more (no requirement regarding maximum savings, though income and outgoings will be assessed)

EDF

Name of fund: Customer Support Fund

Maximum payment: No set limit – depends on your circumstances

Criteria to apply:

Experiencing hardship, or struggling to manage energy debt

Eon Next

Name of fund: Energy Fund

Maximum payment: No set limit – depends on your circumstances

Criteria to apply:

No set criteria, but based on needs and ability to pay energy bills

Octopus

Name of fund: Octo Assist Fund

Maximum payment: No set limit – depends on your circumstances

Criteria to apply:

No specific eligibility criteria

Ovo Energy

Name of fund: Hardship Scheme

Maximum payment: Supplier wouldn't confirm

Criteria to apply:

Full criteria not yet published but likely to include those in energy debt with little/no disposable income, those using medical equipment and those eligible for the Warm Home Discount

Scottish Power

Name of fund: Hardship Fund

Maximum payment: Varies depending on need and funds available

Criteria to apply: