People living in care homes, houseboats and caravans and those who heat their homes with 'alternative' fuels can now get up to £400 in energy support.

Two government schemes to help people with the cost of energy are being administered by local authorities, including councils in Greater Manchester.

They apply to people who did not already qualify for the energy bill support scheme, which saw a £400 credit paid automatically over six months from October to March.

However it is estimated that around a million households missed out because they either did not have a direct contract with an electricity supplier, or they use alternative fuels to heat their home.

Some of those people can now access a £400 payment through the energy bill support scheme alternative fund, which applies to residents in park homes, care homes or people who pay energy through a service charge such as in a house of multiple occupation.

There is also an alternative fuel payment alternative fund which is a £200 payment for households that use alternative fuels to heat their homes such as heating oil, biomass and LPG.

People have until May 31 to apply for both schemes.

In Tameside, the total amount of grant funding received from government for alternative fuel payments is £44,000, with £638,000 for the energy bill support scheme alternative fund.

It is anticipated that around 1,900 residents may qualify for the £400 payment, with more than 275 Tameside households using alternative fuels taking up the £200 payment.

However council officers say no households will be eligible to receive both payments, and they only apply to those who have not already received financial support from the government for energy costs.

It is thought those most likely to benefit are people living in housing associations, care homes, houseboat and narrow-boat occupants, off-grid households and traveller and static caravan sites.

However students, seasonal workers and service occupiers -such as security staff and building caretakers are not eligible for the scheme.

Applications for the payments in both schemes must be made directly to the Department of Energy, Security and Net Zero on the government website.

Details will then be passed to local authorities who will administer the payments. The government says it expects councils to process each application received within 30 days, but officers say time-scales ‘cannot be guaranteed’.

If residents do not have access to the internet they can apply via a contact centre on 0808 175 3287. Payments will be made directly into people’s bank accounts in a single instalment.

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