Residents in Bury are being urged to check if they are eligible to be given hundreds of pounds to help with their energy bills.

A total of around 900,000 households across the UK are eligible to receive £400 as part of the government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS AF).

The new scheme is designed to support people without a direct relationship to their energy supplier and those eligible will receive payments to their bank account to ensure that those requiring support receive payment as soon as possible.

The one-off, non-repayable lump sum falls under the "alternative funding" route of the EBSS AF.

It is also available for households who get their energy through a commercial contract or who are off-grid.

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You may be eligible to apply if your main home is:

  • a residential park home.
  • on a boat on a permanent residential mooring.
  • on a permanent Gypsy and Traveller site.
  • part of a heat network without an electricity meter.
  • in social or private rented accommodation which has a business. energy connection or a communal electricity supply.
  • off the mains electricity or gas grid.
  • in a care home or assisted living facility and you pay for some or all of your care (directly or through loss of pension or other benefits).
  • in a separate domestic home within a non-domestic property (such as a farmhouse or a flat above a shop).

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You can apply online via a secure portal- https://www.gov.uk/apply-energy-bill-support-if-not-automatic

The payment will be made by the council on behalf of the government.

For those without online access, the contact centre helpline can be reached on 0808 175 3287, where a representative will guide them through the application process.

The helpline is open 8am to 6pm on Monday to Friday.