What is the Fuel Direct scheme?

What is the Fuel Direct Scheme and am I eligible?

If you’re struggling to pay for your energy and you’re on certain benefits, you may be able to pay directly from your benefit payments instead. This arrangement is called Fuel Direct.

You may be eligible for the Fuel Direct scheme if you have energy debts and you’re on certain benefits, including Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, ESA, Income Support Allowance and Pension Credit.

How do I apply for the Fuel Direct Scheme? Do I need to contact the Department for Work and Pensions myself?

Call us on 0800 072 5079 (Mon - Fri 8am - 6pm, Sat 9am - 2pm) to discuss what the best payment option would be for you and any other support that may be available. If Fuel Direct is the best option, we’ll provide a monthly quote for both your energy usage and outstanding debt balance.

With your consent we will submit an application to the Department for Work and Pensions on your behalf. DWP will then contact us directly to confirm if the arrangement is agreed.

How do you work out my energy usage and how much will I have to pay back toward my debt if I’m on the Fuel Direct Scheme?

The best way to help us work out your energy usage is to provide us with an up-to-date meter reading. When you call us, please ensure you have this read to hand. That way, we can give you an accurate quote for your payments and reduce the risk of over or underpaying.

The Department for Work and Pensions will confirm the fixed amount that will be deducted from your benefits towards your energy.

The Department for Work and Pensions will then arrange for the agreed amount (usage and debt) to be sent to us and the payments will appear on your quarterly statement.

Will applying for the Fuel Direct scheme stop debt action?

If your application is accepted by the Department for Work and Pensions, your account status will be updated. Whilst we continue to receive payments directly from your benefits, any debt action on your account will stop. We will send you a quarterly statement showing payments received. If payments stop or are paused, you should contact us as soon as possible.

If your application is refused by the Department for Work and Pensions, please get in touch with us as soon as possible to discuss your options and any other support available.

If your Fuel Direct plan is cancelled for any reason e.g. we’re no longer receiving payments from the DWP, or you no longer have a debt balance, you will be moved back to monthly or quarterly billing and you’ll need to arrange an alternative method of payment.

What happens to the Fuel Direct Scheme when my debt is clear?

If you’ve paid off your debt and you want to cancel your Fuel Direct immediately, please contact the Department for Work and Pensions and they’ll do the rest.

We know it’s often easier to pay by instalments, so if you’d prefer to continue paying this way, please contact us to set up an alternative payment plan, like a Direct Debit. Setting up a Direct Debit is quick and easy – to find out more, please visit our Direct Debit FAQs or discover our other payment plan options here.