Talking to your energy supplier can be the best way to get help paying your gas and electricity bills. They may be able to give you a lower payment plan or even force you to switch energy suppliers.
Many energy suppliers are also willing to help you with your debt and offer debt advice. Contact Let’s Talk to find out what help is available and how you can get it. They may also offer help for benefits recipients, elderly people, and disabled people.
If you’re in a crisis, don’t panic. Most utility companies are willing to work with people who are serious about paying their bills. They may offer to spread out the unpaid balance over several months.
In some cases, they may even give you some suggestions on how to reduce your costs. Just keep in mind that your utility providers are not Robin Hoods and are not giving away free money to the public.
If you are struggling with your debt, there are some things you can do to help yourself pay off your gas and electric bills. These options include using a budgeting system to determine how much you can afford to pay every month, applying for Government grants and Prepayment meters, and finding rental assistance programs. If you don’t know where to start, keep reading for advice on how to get your bills paid.
Help With Gas And Electric If You’re In Debt: Budgeting
Unless you’re currently underwater, budgeting for gas and electric bills when you’ve fallen behind on payments can be a difficult process. Thankfully, you’re not alone. Many other people in your situation are in a similar position. There are some tips that will help you stay ahead of your utility bills and avoid becoming further in debt.
For example, you can start by calculating your average energy bill from the previous year. Then, divide that number by 12. If you’re unable to afford it all at once, you can start setting aside a small amount every month for the next 12 months.
You can even deposit the difference every month into a savings account or money market account, and then save for the next bill.
The next step is to evaluate your finances regularly. Make sure to review your bills monthly, and when they’re due, and compare them to normal. If you notice that one bill is significantly higher than the others, try to figure out where the increase came from.
Remember that utility bills are crucial to your daily life and can’t be ignored. During the cold winter months, you need to be sure that your pipes don’t freeze. During the summer, you’ll need air conditioning to keep you cool and comfortable.
Gas is important for heating and cooking, but it’s not the only thing you’ll need to think about when budgeting for gas and electric bills when you’re in debt.
Help With Gas And Electric If You’re In Debt: Government grants
There are many ways to receive help with your bills, including applying for a Government grant for gas and electric if you’re behind on them. Many states have programs in place to assist low and moderate-income households with their utility bills.
Charities may also offer help, including Operation Round Up, which pays for your gas and electric bills. To learn more, visit the National Debt Helpline or call your local agencies.
Applying for free government money can help you eliminate debt and get your bills under control. There are hundreds of nonprofit organizations that help American citizens with housing, medical expenses, child care assistance, and other needs.
Some churches even have food banks and help families. Nonprofit organizations such as Feeding America help people find long-term assistance through government programs. To qualify for free government grants for gas and electric, you must be low-income and in debt, and have trouble paying your bills.
Help With Gas And Electric If You’re In Debt: Prepayment meters
If you are in debt and cannot afford to keep paying your energy bills, prepayment meters may be the best solution. These meters enable you to pay as you go for your energy by topping up with a card or key. You can then pay off your energy bill without the hassle of making multiple payments each month.
tyTo keep the price of prepayment meters low, temporary price caps were introduced recently. Most prepayment tariffs will be cheaper than they were previously.
A prepayment meter can be topped up with credit from any supermarket or letting agent. It’s important to note that your prepayment card is unique to your meter and you need to buy a new one if you move house.
Typically, you can top up your gas and electric bill using your new key, but you need to check with your supplier before making a switch.
Help With Gas And Electric If You’re In Debt: Rental assistance programs
There are countless programs in the UK that help with rental expenses. Saving money on rent means you have that much extra to pay toward your utility bills. The amount of help you can get depends on where you live.
Most programs will help with overdue rent, although future rent may also be eligible for assistance. You need to show proof of your income and housing instability to be considered for these programs. You can also apply to the landlord first and provide a statement of accuracy and use of the property. If you qualify, your landlord will issue the funds for your rent.
A recent survey by Shelter found that private renters were spending a greater proportion of their income on housing, with 63% of these people having no savings. According to Shelter, half of all working renters are just one paycheck away from losing their homes.
This crisis has highlighted the need for support for private renters. Shelter estimates that more than 20 million people in the UK are living in this situation, and rental assistance is an important tool to combat this crisis.
50 Ways To Save Money on Your Utility Bills: Video
The UK government has also adopted a similar scheme, known as Local Housing Allowance (LHA). This scheme is intended to help people who are in need of a lower monthly income and cannot afford a higher rent.
The benefit is paid to landlords and tenants through BACS to their bank or building society accounts. However, this government program has been controversial and has led to tension between landlords and tenants. But many renters have benefited from this scheme.
Self-employed renters will be able to benefit from an 80% income support scheme, but this will only be available from June. Renters who work for themselves will also need to apply for Universal Credit and discuss their situation with their landlord.
If your landlord refuses to help you with the costs, you will have to apply for Housing Benefit. However, housing benefit may make it harder to find a suitable property. This is because landlords have given a variety of reasons for refusing to rent to tenants receiving benefits. They include reasons such as delays in processing claims due to administrative and procedural delays that can lead to arrears.
Renter discrimination is not a huge problem in the UK. Unlike the U.S., the UK has few discriminatory landlords. Therefore, landlords do not regard renters as “scammers”.
Among countries, the Netherlands and the UK have similar proportions of renter households. Despite low vacancy rates, many renters struggle to find a suitable place to live.
Renters in both countries are faced with the same housing difficulties as those in the U.S. However, in the U.S., housing subsidies are not an entitlement. In the Netherlands and UK, more than 40% of renters benefit from demand-side rental subsidies.
