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British Gas Energy Trust and support funds

How to use British Gas account support and the independent British Gas Energy Trust without confusing two different routes.

Last reviewed: 6 July 2026 · UK guidance

In brief

British Gas can review billing, affordability, prepayment and vulnerability on a live customer account. The British Gas Energy Trust is an independent charity with grant and advice programmes that use their own criteria and may help some non-customers.

Contact the supplier about ongoing payments and supply risk now; do not wait for a Trust decision. A grant application may require money advice and can be refused even where the energy account is unaffordable.

Stabilise the British Gas account

Give a current reading where safe, ask for usage and arrears separately, and request an affordable payment based on household circumstances. Mention self-disconnection, medical equipment, children or health needs.

Check the live Trust fund

Use the Trust’s own site to see which fund is open, who can apply, whether British Gas customer status matters and what advice or evidence is required. Avoid old grant links copied by third-party sites.

Prepare a grant application that explains sustainability

Show income, essential spending, energy balance and what has changed. Explain how ongoing bills will be managed if arrears are reduced. Provide the requested documents and signpost relevant figures.

If a grant is not available

Continue supplier negotiations, check other charitable funds, Warm Home Discount and benefits or debt advice. Use the complaint process if affordability or vulnerability is not properly considered.

A two-route request

This distinguishes the supplier and Trust.

My British Gas account is unaffordable. Please review the meter reading, ongoing usage, arrears, payment amount and vulnerability support now. Separately, please direct me to the current British Gas Energy Trust fund and confirm whether money advice or evidence is required. I understand the Trust makes its own decision.

A practical checklist

  • Contact British Gas about the live account.
  • Check the Trust’s own current fund page.
  • Explain how future usage would be affordable.
  • Keep supplier and grant decisions separate.

Check the current information

These are the most relevant official or specialist places to confirm live rules, availability and application details.

British Gas Energy Trust and support funds

britishgas.co.uk

Open official information
British Gas — Bill and payment support

britishgas.co.uk

Open official information
Help with energy bills — GOV.UK

gov.uk

Open official information
Help with bills and energy debt — Ofgem

ofgem.gov.uk

Open official information

Energy bill support and hardship funds: where to start

Where to start when energy is unaffordable: accurate billing, affordable payments, supplier support, grants and urgent protection from loss of supply.

Read this guide

Energy Priority Services Register: what it is and why it matters

What the energy Priority Services Register can provide, who keeps the information and what it does not guarantee.

Read this guide

Warm Home Discount and energy help

How to check the current Warm Home Discount scheme, respond to evidence requests and combine the rebate with wider energy support.

Read this guide

Choose one next action

You do not need to finish everything today. Find a relevant organisation through National Help, or save the action you want to return to in your Support Plan.

Use National HelpOpen my Support Plan

A few closely related starting points, chosen from the same support library.

Energy bill support and hardship funds: where to startWhere to start when energy is unaffordable: accurate billing, affordable payments, supplier support, grants and urgent protection from loss of supply.Energy Priority Services Register: what it is and why it mattersWhat the energy Priority Services Register can provide, who keeps the information and what it does not guarantee.Warm Home Discount and energy helpHow to check the current Warm Home Discount scheme, respond to evidence requests and combine the rebate with wider energy support.

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