- New online portal means Northern Ireland households without a direct relationship to a domestic electricity supplier can apply for government support
- Ministers urge over 28,000 households eligible for the £600 lump sum to apply as soon as possible
- A telephone helpline is available to support without access to the internet to apply for the payment
The UK government's £600 help with energy bills is on course to reach thousands more households across Northern Ireland from today, as new routes for funding open to the public.
Over 28,000 households who do not have a direct relationship to a domestic electricity supplier - such as park home residents, people living in care homes and households who get their energy through a commercial contract - will be able to apply for support under the "alternative funding" route of the government's Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS AF).
This follows the main roll-out of £600 energy support payments, which reached the majority of households across Northern Ireland in January and February. The delivery of support has been designed to cater specifically for the NI market, with households receiving payments as one lump sum.
A new online government portal launching today will allow thousands more households in Northern Ireland to benefit from the government help, while a dedicated customer helpline is also available to assist eligible customers who do not have online access. This follows a successful pilot phase in specific post code areas to refine the application process, making sure the system can deliver support to households in a robust, secure and efficient manner.
Ministers are today urging all eligible households to apply as soon as possible for their support, whilst also warning households to stay alert to potential scams and report them to relevant authorities where they are suspected. The government will never provide any links to the application portal, or directly ask individuals to apply for the £600 support. Anyone who requires additional help when applying for support may wish to seek assistance from a family member or trusted friend.
Minister at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Amanda Solloway, said:
Hundreds of thousands of households across Northern Ireland have already felt the benefit of our help with their energy bills, but this online portal is the final piece of the puzzle to make sure the final few who don't have a direct relationship with an electricity supplier can apply for their £600 of support.
It's simple and easy to do and I want every household entitled to this to get your application in as soon as possible. The sooner you do, the sooner help can get to you.
The exact date that an eligible household will receive support will depend on when an application is made, with the application process administered in Northern Ireland by the government's contracted delivery partner.
Payments will be delivered directly into people's bank accounts by the government's finance delivery partner, UKSBS. If you have previously attempted to open a standard current account but not been able to do so, you may be eligible to open a basic bank account for free. The nine largest personal current account (PCA) providers in the UK are legally required to offer a basic bank account option.
Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris said:
Welcome news for those Northern Ireland households without a direct relationship to a domestic energy supplier, with people able to apply for £600 support from today.
I urge all those eligible to apply online or to
