Help with energy bills if you're affected by a terminal illness

If you're living with a terminal illness, you could be eligible for some financial support with your energy bills and the cost of living. You could also get help with your energy bills if you're caring for someone with a terminal illness.

If you would find it helpful to talk to someone, call the Marie Curie Support Line for free on 0800 090 2309 and ask to speak with our Energy Support Officers. They can give you expert information on things like supplier-specific support, grants, and energy efficiency updates. They can also talk through the support we mention on this page.

The Winter Fuel Payment is a tax-free amount paid once a year to help with your heating bills. Getting the Winter Fuel Payment does not affect your other benefits.

To be eligible for Winter Fuel Payment, you need to be:

How much you get depends on your circumstances.

It’s currently available in England and Wales.

If you’re eligible, you’ll receive a letter in October or November telling you how much you’ll get.

If you think you’re eligible, and you have not received a letter, check if you should make a claim.

Cold Weather Payments are tax-free payments for when the weather drops below a certain temperature. You usually need to be claiming certain benefits to qualify.

It’s currently available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Cold Weather Payments do not affect any other benefits you may get.

In Scotland, the Winter Heating Payment replaced the Cold Weather Payment from February 2023. It is an annual payment of £58.75 (December 2024) for people on certain benefits. If you are eligible, you do not need to apply.

Winter Heating Payments do not affect any other benefits you may get.

Some energy suppliers offer a Warm Home Discount Scheme. This is a one-off discount on your energy bill – the money is not paid to you. The scheme in Scotland works slightly differently to the scheme in England and Wales.

The Warm Home Discount Scheme is not available in Northern Ireland.

If you are eligible, your energy company will let you know.

You might be able to get other grants too.

If you cannot afford to top up your prepayment meter, you might be able to get a fuel voucher. Your local council, Citizens Advice or food bank may be able to help you get a fuel voucher.

You might also be able to get a fuel voucher if you do not use gas or electricity for your heating and you meet certain criteria.

Fuel vouchers are not usually available in Northern Ireland. If you live in Northern Ireland, speak to Advice NI to ask about what support might be available.

Across the UK, councils and local governments have schemes that can offer financial grants and support for people in specific circumstances. These grants can usually be used to help with things like energy and water bills, food, clothing and other costs.

The links below have more information about the grants, including how to apply:

You could be eligible for other financial help such as benefits.

If you're having trouble paying bills, you could have some of them paid directly out of certain benefits payments. This includes rent, service charges, fuel or water bills.

If you use an oxygen concentrator (a machine that plugs in) for your home oxygen therapy, you can get a refund for the electricity it uses. The company that provides your oxygen concentrator can make payments to your bank account. Contact your supplier to find out how to claim these payments:

The Cold Weather Priority (CWP) scheme identifies households that use heating oil and should be prioritised during cold weather and heating oil shortages. It is free.

If you are over 75 years old, or have someone in your household who is over 75, you may be able to be added to the Cold Weather Priority scheme.

If you’d like to be included, contact your supplier.

The Priority Services Register is a free support service offered by energy and water suppliers in England, Scotland and Wales. It's for people who could be vulnerable, for example if you have a terminal illness.

You could get extra help such as priority support in an emergency, and free gas safety checks if you also claim certain benefits. You could also get notice of planned power cuts if you rely on your energy supply for medical reasons.

To sign up for the Priority Services Register:

Or you can sign up online, depending on:

Here's how to sign up online for the Priority Services Register:

You have to contact your water company. Some companies will have the option for you to sign up online. Find your water company on the CCW website.

The Customer Care Register is the Northern Ireland equivalent of the Priority Services Register. It means you can get extra support if:

Being on the Customer Care Register means your details are a priority for your energy company. For example, you'll be contacted ahead of time about planned energy outages (if energy will be switched off for a period of time).

There is also an electricity Care Register. This Register is for people who rely on electricity for their healthcare needs – for example, for equipment.

Contact your energy supplier if you're worried about being able to afford your energy bills, or you cannot afford to top up your meter. Your supplier should take your circumstances into account and offer help. Visit Citizens Advice for more information on contacting your energy supplier, or nidirect if you live in Northern Ireland.

You could get help with energy saving improvements to your home through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). Visit GOV.UK for more information about the ECO scheme, or contact your energy supplier (see link below).

If you live in England, Scotland or Wales and you have a power cut, call 105. It's free to call and will put you through to your local network operator, who can give you help and advice. Visit Power Cut 105 for information on what to do in a power cut, and to find your network operator.

If you live in Northern Ireland and you have a power cut, call 03457 643 643. Visit Northern Ireland Electricity Networks for more information about what to do in a power cut.

There are some things you can do which could help to lower the cost of your energy bills:

Call the free Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309 for general information about benefits and finances, or speak to our Energy Support Officers for dedicated information, support and practical guidance on the cost of energy bills for people affected by terminal illness. This includes information on benefits, supplier-specific support, grants and energy efficiency updates.