As you may be aware, the UK Government has formulated a comprehensive package of financial support, worth around £49 billion, to support households combatting energy costs.
The UK Government has been working on the formulation of the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) in order to provide a £400 energy bill discount to the 900,000 households across the country that are without a domestic electricity supply.
Following my extensive lobbying efforts to the UK Government, I am very pleased to inform you that Wrexham Council has been selected as a pilot local authority for the EBSS AF. This means that if you are eligible for EBSS AF, you are now able to submit an early application for the funding by visiting the GOV.UK portal, or by entering the following URL: online.apply-for-energy-bill-alternative-funds.service.gov.uk/s/apply#where-do-you-live You are also able to apply for EBSS AF by calling 0808 1753287. Once you have completed your submission, Wrexham Council will then assess your application and subject to approval: allocate the funding directly to you.
I am also aware that there are households across the constituency that are not connected to the gas grid and are therefore dependent on alternative fuels as their main form of heating. The UK Government will also introduce a £200 Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) for these households, in addition to the £400 EBSS/EBSS AF, so that those households that depend on alternative fuels are also in receipt of extensive financial support from the UK Government. Ministers across Government have reassured me that applications for the AFP will open at the end of this month.
You will find further information about how to apply for both financial support schemes (EBSS AF and AFP) in the enclosed correspondence and on my website, which you can access by visiting: www.sarahatherton.org.uk/cost-living