Households in Northern Ireland will receive a one-off payment of £600 towards their energy bills, which will start to be paid to homes in January 20231. The payment combines £400 under the government's Energy Bills Support Scheme Northern Ireland (EBSS NI) and £200 under the Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) scheme, which is paid regardless of the type of fuel a household uses to heat its home1.
Unlike the rest of the UK, which has a different energy market, the payment will be made all in one go, to make sure people feel the full benefit of the scheme as soon as possible1. It will be paid by the electricity supplier directly into a bank account where bills are paid by direct debit; households with a prepayment meter will be sent a voucher instead1.
The secretary of state for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, said:
"I am acutely aware of the uncertainty and frustration that people across Northern Ireland have felt about their energy bill support. Families can start the new year knowing that they will receive the full support from January."
Separately, the government set out how support reaches households in Great Britain that use alternative fuels or have no direct relationship with an energy supplier1. A £200 Alternative Fuel Payment goes to households in England, Scotland and Wales that use fuels such as heating oil or biomass1. Where a household has an electricity supplier but does not use the gas grid, that payment is made into the electricity account automatically in February1. Where there is no electricity supplier, households apply through a Gov.uk online portal launching in January, with a phoneline also opening that month for those unable to use the internet1.
The EBSS Alternative Funding scheme will give £400 to remaining households that do not get their energy directly from a supplier, an estimated 900,000 households1. This includes tenants in certain private and social rented homes, residents of houseboats and caravans, and people living in care homes and park homes1. Applications go through the same online portal, with a customer helpline for those without online access; once details are checked, payments are made directly via the local authority, and the exact date depends on when the application is made and when it can be processed1. Households already eligible for support under the main Energy Bills Support Scheme cannot apply for EBSS Alternative Funding1.
| Payment | Amount | Who it covers | How it is paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| EBSS NI plus AFP | £600 in one go | All Northern Ireland households | Electricity supplier, into bank account for direct debit customers; voucher for prepayment meters1 |
| Alternative Fuel Payment | £200 | England, Scotland and Wales households using alternative fuels | Into electricity account automatically in February where there is a supplier; otherwise via Gov.uk portal1 |
| EBSS Alternative Funding | £400 | Around 900,000 households without a direct supplier relationship | Application via Gov.uk portal, paid through the local authority1 |
Why it matters for households
For Northern Ireland homes, the £600 is a single payment rather than a monthly credit, so the timing of the payment matters more than the amount spread across the winter. Direct debit customers receive it into their bank account; prepayment meter customers receive a voucher, which has to be redeemed. Households in Northern Ireland that do not have an electricity supplier, and households in Great Britain without a direct supplier relationship, are not paid automatically and must apply through the portal or phoneline opening in January1. For those in Great Britain using heating oil, biomass or similar fuels, the £200 arrives through the electricity account in February where a supplier exists, so the money does not reach homes without one until an application is processed1. Further detail on help with energy bills in Northern Ireland and on the Warm Home Discount and other help with energy bills is set out elsewhere on the site.
What happens next
The £600 payment to Northern Ireland households starts to be paid in January 20231. The Gov.uk online portal and phoneline for households without an electricity supplier open in January, and the £200 Alternative Fuel Payment for households with a supplier but no gas grid connection is made automatically in February1. The date an eligible household receives EBSS Alternative Funding depends on when the application is made and when the relevant local authority processes it1.
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