Hundreds of park homes residents in North Lincolnshire will be able to register for the £400 Government cash for energy bills within weeks.
The move has been welcomed by Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council – with £400,000 expected to be shared by the almost 1,000 families living in park homes.
Ahead of a Government portal opening at the end of January, Cllr Waltham said: “The support for families from Government has been unprecedented and has directly reduced the impact of global inflation on hardworking people here in North Lincolnshire.
“This latest announcement plugs a gap that had seen many residents not get the £400 that everyone else will have seen being taken directly from their bills – it is really pleasing the Government has listened and responded. I know our MPs have been working closely with ministers to ensure the residents in park homes can access the same cash as everyone else.
“This scheme alone has seen more than £30m taken off bills in North Lincolnshire; that’s £30m which will maybe have been saved or spent on energy saving measures, or maybe supporting the local economy.”
This £400 has seen other households receive direct deductions from energy providers and is on top of the Energy Price Guarantee which fixed the unit price per kilowatt hour providers charge – alone this is anticipated to have saved typical households around £900 this winter.
The details were announced before Christmas though only now has the process as to how the £400 can be claimed been detailed.
Later this month the Government will open a portal for what is being called the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF). Residents will be able to apply via the Government portal from the end of January.
Announcing the scheme, Business and Energy Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Putin’s illegal war has caused global energy prices to soar, but we are continuing to work hard and urgently to get help to households across the UK, and this update provides people with more certainty on when and how we will deliver help with fuel bills.
“We’re already limiting the amount suppliers can charge consumers for their energy through the Energy Price Guarantee, which will continue to help consumers through to March 2024.”
Cllr Elaine Marper, cabinet member for finance at North Lincolnshire Council, added: “A great deal of support for people has been given and this latest announcement will be welcome news I am sure.
“While it has been milder these past couple of weeks, this cash will certainly help people as we go through the next couple of months.”
Subject to applications meeting the eligibility criteria, people who will be able to receive the cash include care home residents and others in care facilities/sheltered accommodation (wholly or partly self-funded), park home residents, houseboats and caravans that can provide proof of address, social and private tenants who pay for energy through a landlord on a commercial supply, travellers, homes on a heat network/private wire, off-grid homes and farmhouses used for wholly domestic purposes.
For further details visit the GOV.UK website.
