Energy Support Payments

Energy Support Payment and Variable Rate Energy Support Payment

Introduction

Energy Support Payments are intended to help people who get low income benefits, or who have an income which is just above income support levels, with the increased costs of oil, gas and electricity.

An Energy Support Payment will be paid to you automatically in late April/early May if you’re entitled to either:

  • income support
  • income-based jobseeker’s allowance, or
  • employed person’s allowance (EPA)

for a period which includes 4 April 2022 and -

  • you’ve been getting one (or more) of those benefits continuously since 7 March 2022,; and
  • you (or your partner, if you have one) are responsible for the payment of housing costs for where you live, or you (or your partner, if you have one) can be treated as being responsible for the payment of housing costs for where you live (see below).

'Housing costs' for this purpose means: rent, mortgage interest payments, rates, property maintenance and buildings insurance.

The amount of Energy Support Payment you’ll get is explained below.

If you live in a hotel, guest house, other lodgings or residential care you don’t qualify for the Energy Support Payment.

Amount of Energy Support Payment

The amount of an Energy Support Payment is normally £300.

However, you may get a reduced amount if you share responsibility for the payment of housing costs, for example with a friend or family member who’s not your partner. If this is the case, you’ll be paid a proportion of £300 according to how many people you share responsibility for the payment of housing costs with.

Variable Rate Energy Support Payment – automatic payment

A Variable Rate Energy Support Payment will be paid to you automatically in late April or early May if you don’t meet the conditions set out above but -

  • you were paid a Variable Rate Winter Bonus earlier this year;
  • you don’t qualify for an Energy Support Payment; and
  • in respect of the week commencing 11 April 2022 you (or your partner, if you have one) are responsible for the payment of housing costs for where you live, or you (or your partner, if you have one) can be treated as being responsible for the payment of housing costs for where you live (see below).

The amount payable is set out in the table below.

Amount of Variable Rate Winter Bonus which was paid to you

Amount of Variable Rate Energy Support Payment which will be paid to you

£75.00

£225.00

£50.00

£150.00

£25.00

£75.00

Variable Rate Energy Support Payment – claim required

You may also be entitled to a Variable Rate Energy Support Payment if:

  • you don’t qualify for an Energy Support Payment;
  • you didn’t get a Variable Rate Winter Bonus earlier this year;
  • you have a low income, and
  • you (or your partner, if you have one) are liable to pay housing costs for where you live, or you (or your partner, if you have one) can be treated as if you are liable to pay housing costs for where you live (see below).

In these circumstances you will have to make a claim for a Variable Rate Energy Support Payment. Please email us at ISP@gov.im or phone us on +44 1624 685053 and ask us to send you a claim form. You must make your claim before 11 July 2022. We will not be able to accept any claims made after then.

Your entitlement to a Variable Rate Energy Support Payment will be assessed based on your circumstances and income in the week commencing Monday 11 April 2022.This is known as the “relevant week”.

The Variable Rate Energy Support Payment can be worth up to £225. But how much you may be able to get will depend on your circumstances, how much money you have coming in and how much savings you have. If you have savings of less than £13,000 it won’t affect your claim.

If you have a partner who lives with you any income or savings they have will be added to your own.

You may get a proportional amount of a Variable Rate Energy Support Payment if you share responsibility for the payment of housing costs, for example with a friend or family member who is not your partner.

Depending on your circumstances you may be entitled to a Variable Rate Energy Support Payment if your income is less than the amounts shown below. Please note that these amounts are only illustrative. The rules are complicated and it’s not practically possible to provide guidance covering all scenarios.

In calculating your income we’ll:

  • take into account your earnings (if you have any) after tax and National insurance contributions and one-half of any pension contributions and
  • ignore child benefit, disability living allowance and attendance allowance
  • If you’re paid earnings or a pension monthly we’ll normally multiply the monthly amount by 12 and then divide the result by 52 to give a weekly equivalent.
  • If you have a partner who lives with you any income they have will be calculated in the same way and added to your own.

If you’re a pensioner:

  • living on your own and your income is less than £412.40 a week
  • living with your spouse or partner and your income is less than £522.55 a week
    (If get an occupational or personal pension which is paid monthly, to calculate a weekly equivalent amount multiply the value of your monthly amount  by 12 and then divide the result by 52)

If you’re below state pension age and are:

  • a single person with no dependents and your income is less than £341.35 a week
  • a couple with no dependents and your income is less than £400.40 a week
  • a couple with 1 child and your income is less than £497.80 a week
  • a couple with 2 children and your income is less than £556.70 a week
  • a lone parent with 1 child and your income is less than £433.40 a week
  • a lone parent with 2 children and your income is less than £497.65 a week
    (If your salary is paid monthly, to calculate a weekly equivalent amount multiply the value of your net pay (i.e., after deductions) by 12 and then divide the result by 52).

If you’re struggling with paying your bills and you’re not sure whether you might be entitled to a Variable Rate Energy Support Payment please contact us at +44 1624 685053 for advice.

People who are treated as being responsible for the payment of housing costs

You or your partner (if you have one) may be treated as responsible for the payment of housing costs if you are:

  • severely disabled
  • a carer for a severely disabled person who lives with you, or
  • responsible for paying the heating bills for your home.