It's important that you contact your energy supplier as soon as you start finding it difficult to pay your bills. 

Further information and support can be found on the Ofgem website.

You could also contact the British Gas Energy Trust, an independent charity that can help - no matter who your energy supplier is.

If you can't afford to top up your prepayment meter

You can get temporary credit if you can't afford to top up your prepayment meter. Visit the Citizens Advice website or the British Gas website for more information.

A warm welcome in local community buildings

If you're struggling to heat your home, you may find a warm space at a local community building. Visit the Warm Welcome website to find one near you.

Home energy support from Hampshire County Council

Hitting the Cold Spots can help with short or long term solutions if you're struggling to keep your home warm.

Find out more

Heating oil support

As part of the new crisis resilience fund, launched by the Government from April 2026, dedicated assistance is available for low-income households who rely on heating oil and are at risk of running out due to increased costs.

Hampshire County Council will deliver the scheme and prioritise households who cannot afford the minimum cost of an oil delivery and are at immediate risk of losing the ability to heat their home or access hot water.

Residents will be eligible if they:

  • live full time in Hampshire (excluding those in the Southampton City and Portsmouth City areas)
  • use heating oil as their main way of heating their home
  • have 150 litres or less, with priority given to households under 100 litres
  • are at immediate risk of being unable to heat their home or access hot water
  • are in receipt of universal credit or pension credit OR
  • are not in receipt of any benefits but can evidence that they cannot afford the minimum order required for a delivery
  • have limited access to savings

Applicants will be asked to provide:

  • proof of oil heating, such as a recent invoice, bank payment to an oil supplier, EPC, or tenancy agreement
  • proof of current oil levels, including a dated photo of the tank gauge and tank size if shown as a percentage
  • financial information, such as bank statements from the last month, recent income details, and any savings

This information helps to confirm that a household is unable to meet the cost of a minimum delivery. Eligible residents will receive a payment directly into their bank account. The money must then be used to contribute towards the cost of purchasing heating oil.

Apply for support

To apply for support, residents should contact their local Citizens Advice service who administer CRF payments on behalf of Hampshire County Council.

Need more information?

For more information on other support available through the crisis resilience fund, please visit the Hampshire County Council website.

Grants or loans to make your home more efficient 

Low-income households could be eligible for funding that covers the cost of energy improvements to their home.

If you don’t qualify for funding, you can apply for an interest free COSY loan to help spread the cost of improvements. 

Find out more on our COSY East Hampshire page.

Help with heating costs can also be found on the government's website: 

Watch out for scams

Unfortunately, scammers are taking advantage of people's need for support and there have been a series of scams from fake fuel vouchers to dodgy investment opportunities. 

Find out more on the Action Fraud website

Other energy advice

You can also: