1,500

Maximum grant

Per successful application

2 yrs

Re-apply window

After a previous award

1,000

Savings limit

To remain eligible

0121 348 7797

BGET helpline

Mon-Fri 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

What is the British Gas Energy Trust?

The British Gas Energy Trust (BGET) is a UK registered charity (charity number 1106218) set up in 2004. Its sole purpose is to relieve fuel poverty by giving grants to vulnerable and low-income households who are struggling to pay their domestic gas or electricity bills. BGET is funded entirely by British Gas Trading Limited and a small number of partner organisations - but it is operationally independent and run by an unpaid board of trustees.

Grant assessment and processing is handled day-to-day by Auriga Services, the trust's appointed grants administrator since February 2020. Auriga reviews applications, requests further evidence and notifies the trustees, who make the final award decision.

Key facts about the trust before you apply

  1. You do not need to be a British Gas customer to apply ;
  2. The grant clears existing energy debt - the money is paid straight to your supplier, never to your bank account ;
  3. Awards are reserved for genuine emergencies; the trust receives many times more applications than it can fund ;
  4. Only the account holder can apply, or someone nominated and authorised in writing (e.g. a carer) ;
  5. The trust will ask for evidence you have received independent money advice before applying ;
  6. Reply to evidence requests within 30 days or your application will be closed ;
  7. If you are awarded a grant, you cannot re-apply for another two years ;
  8. If your application is refused, you can re-apply at any time if your circumstances have changed.
Since 2022 the trust has also opened a separate British Gas Energy Support Fund for British Gas customers, paid as direct bill credits rather than third-party grants. Eligibility is more restrictive and applications are made through British Gas, not BGET. See britishgas.co.uk for that scheme.

Who can apply for a BGET grant?

You can apply for an energy-debt grant from the British Gas Energy Trust if all of the following apply on the day you submit your application:

  • You live in England, Scotland or Wales (Northern Ireland is not covered - applicants there should contact Bryson Energy or the NI Direct fuel-poverty schemes instead) ;
  • You are the account holder on the gas or electricity bill (or applying on behalf of an account holder who cannot apply themselves, with their written authorisation) ;
  • You have an outstanding debt for gas or electricity with a UK domestic supplier - any supplier, not just British Gas ;
  • Your household has less than £1,000 in savings ;
  • You have received free money or debt advice from a recognised agency in the last three months (see “evidence required” below) ;
  • You have not received a BGET grant in the last two years.

Most of the trust's annual budget is reserved for British Gas energy customers - they receive priority - but the scheme is open to everyone in fuel poverty regardless of supplier.

How to apply step by step

1

Free money advice

Speak to Citizens Advice, StepChange, National Debtline or MoneyHelper. Get the adviser name and organisation.

2

Gather evidence

Bills, payslips, benefit letters, 3 months of bank statements, money-advice paperwork. See the next section for the full list.

3

Create an account

Sign up at bget.org.uk with a personal email address.

4

Complete the form

Allow 30 to 60 minutes. Save and Continue lets you finish in multiple sessions.

5

Submit & track

Watch your BGET account dashboard for status changes.

6

Respond fast

Reply to any evidence request within 30 days or the application is closed automatically.

7

Get the outcome

Decision email arrives within 6 to 12 weeks. If awarded, the grant is paid straight to your energy supplier and credited to your account.

If you cannot complete the form online (no internet access, visual impairment, dyslexia, English as a second language) call the British Gas Energy Trust on 0121 348 7797 and ask for a paper form or for an Auriga assessor to call you back. You can also nominate a carer or support worker to apply on your behalf.

Evidence you will need to provide

Without the right evidence the trust cannot assess your application. Provide as much detail as possible - and only photocopies / scans, never originals.

Evidence the British Gas Energy Trust requires for grant applications
Evidence typeWhat to submit
Independent money adviceName and contact details of the agency, the name of your adviser and the date you received the advice. The trust may contact them directly to verify.
Energy debtLatest gas and electricity bills showing the outstanding balance. Include your supplier name, account number(s) and a meter reading taken on the day of submission.
IncomeThree consecutive payslips or benefit award letters less than 12 months old.
Bank statementsThree months of bank statements for every adult in the household (PDF download from online banking is fine).
Household expenditureA monthly breakdown of your bills, rent or mortgage, food, transport and other essential costs. The money-advice agency will normally help you compile this.
Other debtsStatements or letters showing the balance of any other debts (council tax arrears, credit cards, loans, mobile phone).
Personal circumstancesA free-text explanation of what triggered the debt and how a grant will help you manage going forward. Be specific.

If you do not have a scanner, take clear smartphone photos in good light. If you need to send documents by post, write your full name and BGET reference on every page and use this address: Freepost BRITISH GAS ENERGY TRUST. No stamp required.

British Gas Energy Trust contact details

British Gas Energy Trust contact channels
ChannelDetailsWhen to use it
Phone0121 348 7797Mon-Fri 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. - general enquiries, paper forms, callbacks.
Application formbget.org.ukSubmit a new application or sign in to track an existing one.
General email[email protected]Questions, complaints, partnership and press enquiries.
Evidence submission[email protected]Send supporting documents for an existing application.
Postal addressFreepost BRITISH GAS ENERGY TRUSTIf you cannot scan or email evidence. No stamp needed.

Free advice centres that can help with your application

BGET funds a network of independent advice centres that can help you put an application together. The full list lives at britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/Home/AdviceServices. Pick the closest centre to your address and book a free appointment - they will not charge you for the help.

In Scotland, in addition to Citizens Advice Scotland, the trust funds THAW Orkney for islands-based applicants and several mainland charities.

Other ways British Gas can help with bills

A BGET grant is not the only support route. Depending on your circumstances, one or more of these may be quicker or easier to access:

SchemeHow it helps
Warm Home Discount£150 one-off rebate on the electricity bill of eligible low-income households between October and 31 March.
Cold Weather Payment£25 per qualifying seven-day cold snap, paid by the DWP on top of certain means-tested benefits.
Winter Fuel Payment£100-£300 for pensioners receiving Pension Credit in England and Wales ; broader eligibility in Scotland (Pension Age Winter Heating Payment).
Priority Services RegisterFree supplier service for vulnerable customers: large-print bills, advance outage warnings, password protection on doorstep visits.
ECO4 / Great British Insulation SchemeFunded insulation, heating upgrades and energy-efficiency measures for fuel-poor households. British Gas is one of the obligated installers.
Repayment plansIf you are struggling but not eligible for a grant, ask British Gas to set up an affordable repayment plan against your debt. Ofgem rules require suppliers to offer this.

British Gas Energy Trust - frequently asked questions

No. The British Gas Energy Trust accepts applications from customers of any UK domestic energy supplier in England, Scotland and Wales. British Gas customers tend to receive priority because the bulk of the fund comes from British Gas, but all UK domestic energy customers are welcome.

Grants typically clear the full outstanding gas and electricity debt up to £1,500. In some cases the trust may also fund essential white goods (e.g. a fridge or cooker) for households where the lack of an appliance is contributing to fuel poverty.

No. Grants are paid directly to your energy supplier(s) and applied as a credit against your account. Nothing is paid into your bank account.

From submission to outcome, typically six to twelve weeks - longer in winter when the trust receives the highest volume of applications. Respond to evidence requests within 30 days to avoid delays.

You can re-apply at any time if your circumstances change. The most common refusal reasons are missing evidence, savings above the threshold, or an unrealistic future-management plan. Get help from a money adviser before re-applying.

If your previous application was awarded, you cannot apply again for two years from the date of award. If your previous application was refused, you can re-apply immediately with new information.

Yes - savings means money you can access. This includes premium bonds, ISAs, savings accounts and Credit Union deposits. It does not include the value of your home or pension pot.

Yes. The Trust is an independent charity (charity number 1106218) open to all UK domestic energy customers, paying grants up to £1,500. The Energy Support Fund is a separate British Gas scheme launched in 2022 to provide direct bill credits to its own customers, applied through britishgas.co.uk. Different eligibility, different application route.

Start your application

Apply online or call the British Gas Energy Trust for paper forms and callbacks.

Apply on bget.org.uk Call 0121 348 7797

Further reading

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