Essentials Programme
Helping our Vulnerable customers
Our Essentials Programme offers a range of products, services and advice for our most vulnerable customers with different needs.
Our 3 schemes within the Essentials Programme are:
If you are on very low income and on means tested benefits we can help, through our 'Essentials Support' package by providing an account assessment and helping you choose the best payment method for you.
For more information on Essentials Support, call us free on
0800 072 5230(If you are a Pre Pay customer, please call 0800 294 8604)
We offer signposting to professional free impartial debt advice and information. If you qualify, we can arrange for free home insulation and energy efficient products to help you reduce your energy usage and bills long term.
'Essentials Safe and Sound' is for customers who have special requirements and our dedicated helpline can provide help and advice on our schemes such as Home Energy Care, Charity Partner support, and Energy Efficiency.
To find out more about 'Essentials Safe and Sound' call us free on
0800 072 7100(If you are a Pre Pay customer, please call 0800 294 8604)
If you are a British Gas customer, over 70 years old and claiming Pension Credit or claiming Disability Living Allowance or Attendance allowance, or you suffer from a chronic illness, then you may be eligible.
Our 'Essentials Combined' package includes our social tariff, to help our existing vulnerable customers who qualify for our 'Essentials Safe and Sound' but are also on a very low income and claiming means tested benefits.
To find out more about 'Essentials Combined' call us free on
0800 072 7100(If you are a Pre Pay customer, please call 0800 294 8604)
In addition to the products and services offered as part of our Essentials Programme, British Gas also offer a number of initiatives geared towards supporting our vulnerable customers:
Debt Support
British Gas debt team
We provide a combination of practical support and advice to help our customers who are having problems paying for their gas and electricity. You can contact out debt team on 0800 048 0404.
You may want to look at our budget planner and Ways to Pay booklet to help you take control of your finance at this difficult time.
National Debtline
The National Debtline provides free confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems. You can contact them in 0800 808 4000 or visit their website at http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk
There are charitable trusts who give grants to individuals suffering financial hardship. They often use specific criteria to determine who they support, such as a person's past occupation, local area or age. For example:
British Gas Energy Trust
We continue to support the work of the British Gas Energy Trust, an independent charity established by British Gas. The trust may be able to help you if you have an energy debt. The trust can offer grants and Further Assistance Payments (FAPs) to existing British Gas customers. If you are interested in seeing how the trust may be able to help you, please visit their website at http://www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk
Turn2us
Turn2us provides a website which finds grants or benefits available to an individual based on their circumstances.
http://www.turn2us.org.uk/
Charity Partners
British Gas have six charity partners that have years of experience in supporting the most vulnerable members of society. With regular liaison over current issues affecting vulnerable people, British Gas work closely with partner organisations to deliver initiatives that reach out to the most vulnerable people in the community. See who our charity partners are and how they might be able to assist you.
here to HELP
The British Gas 'here to HELP' programme offers free or subsidised insulation, a benefits assessment and other products and services from four of our charity partners, Help the Aged, Scope, RNIB and Money Advice Trust.
Local authorities and housing associations can also benefit from British Gas funding for energy efficiency products and other 'here to HELP' services for their communities.
For more information or to sign up, call 0845 605 2535
Home Energy Care
Our Home Energy Care team provides essential services for some of our most vulnerable customers. Almost 560,000 customers benefit from this service which includes bills in alternative formats, annual gas safety checks and specially designed appliance controls and adaptors for:
• older customers
• customer with disabilities
• customers that are chronically sick
• customers on means tested benefits with children under 5.
To sign up to Home Energy Care Call now on 0800 072 8625 Or Textphone 18001 0845 955 5202
Staying Warm in Winter
The 2009 British Gas Help the Aged Campaign aims to help people keep warm and well particularly during this winter. This booklet looks at benefits you could claim to boost your income, tips on how to keep yourself and your home warm, different ways to pay for heat and grants available.
Download further information Cut up to 1/3 off your energy bills
Complete our new and improved Energy Savers Report for FREE expert advice on how to save money and energy
Home Heat Helpline
The Home Heat Helpline is a free phone service offering help if you're worried about paying your heating bills. It can provide you with access to further information, schemes and services that will help you manage your energy costs, and grants for home improvements to make your home more energy efficient. If you are of pensionable age, a family on low income, living with long-term or serious health conditions or with disabilities, call now on 0800 33 66 99 or click here »
We offer an interpreter service. If you would like to discuss your bill in a language other than English, please call us on 0800 048 0404.
