The Manchester Fuel Poverty programme offers electricity assistance

Residents in Manchester may benefit from lower electricity prices due to the collective energy switching scheme used by the council. Still, when you are struggling to pay your bills and start to fall behind, you can use any help that you can get. Manchester electricity assistance is possible thanks to a special grant program.

The Help in Fuel Poverty scheme allows for struggling households to receive a grant of at least £30 towards fuel bills. While it may no seem like too much, it can help when facing a hardship. Total grants may be approved for up to £49 per applicant.

Grants for electricity and paying gas costs are made through the welfare provision scheme. The purpose is to provide actual cash credits towards your bills to help make up part of the arrears. By doing so, it is hoped that you will be able to better make your ongoing electricity and gas bill payments on a permanent basis.

Part of the application is to show how you intend to remain current on your electricity and gas bills. This is very important do do as your grant application will be scrutinised to see that you have a plan for being able to pay all of your bills on a permanent basis in the future. They want to see that the grant will help you return to current status on all bills. It helps to show that you have made adjustments to increase income, reduced other expenses, or budgeting better and have started an emergency savings program. Let them know that you have created a new budget. It only takes a few minutes to create one.

The other part of the application is to determine need. Preferred applications will document a bona fide financial emergency that was created by a temporary crisis. A successful application will show that something did happen that caused you to fall behind on bills. Even if it was due to an error that you made, be honest and explain how you have adapted as a result.

Finally, Manchester electric assistance will depend on you or someone in your household receiving Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment Support Allowance, Income Support, or Guaranteed Pension Credit. Additionally, the grant depends on having a young child in the home under age 5, an adult over pension age or a disabled child or adult living in the home. These requirements are similar to those required of other electricity assistance schemes.

To apply for up to £49 in Manchester electricity assistance, contact the City Council directly at 0161 234 5000 or visit the Manchester Town Hall Extension on Mount Street.