Update 2 – 20th December 2022
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) issued a statement on 19 December providing a further update on the £400 discount under the EBSS Alternative Funding (EBSS -AF) and the £200 discount under the Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP).
On the same day BEIS organised a briefing for a range of stakeholders including park home representatives, to provide additional details about the delivery of the payments.
This document provides a brief summary of the statement and update from the meeting.
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EBSS-Alternative Funding (EBSS-AF)
Online applications will open in January 2023 for households including park home residents who are eligible for the £400 – EBSS AF.
Applicants will need to complete a short online application form via the GOV.UK website. This is the only website where applications can be submitted. There will be no paper applications.
A dedicated customer helpline will be available to assist those who do not have online access. Further details about the helpline will be provided in January.
Once an application has been made, the details will be processed and verified before the payment is made by local authorities.
Local authorities are not responsible for the application or verification process. Residents do not need to contact their local authority now or when the application process opens.
The exact date that an eligible household will receive support will depend on when the application is made and when the payment can be processed by the relevant local authority.
Q. What will the process be for claiming the discount?
All eligible households will be required to apply for the payment through the GOV.UK website. They will fill out a short form on GOV.UK with a few simple details, including their name and address.
Once the details have been verified, the payment will be made by the relevant local authority.
Q. Should I contact my local authority now about the EBSS-AF or AFP payments?
NO. Local authorities are not responsible for the application process so will be unable to assist with any queries.
Residents do not need to contact their local authority now or when the application process opens.
Q. How will applicants find out about the eligibility criteria?
More information will be made available in January.
The GOV.UK page will also include an overview of eligibility and what applicants need to do to apply for the support.
Q. When will more information be made available to residents?
More information and details will be made available in January.
Q. How can residents be sure the GOV.UK website is safe to use?
There will be controls in place to ensure the portal is safe for residents to use.
Q. Will the EBSS-AF scheme call residents and ask them to make an application?
NO. The scheme will not call any resident and ask them to make an application.
Residents will have to apply through the GOV.UK website or call the dedicated customer helpline themselves.
Caution – residents should not at any time provide any information to anyone who calls them and claims to be calling from or acting on behalf of the EBSS-AF scheme.
Q. Will residents be required to provide their site owner’s electricity meter number when they make an application?
No. The application form will not ask for or require residents to provide their site owner’s meter number.
Site owners will not be involved in the process.
ALTERNATIVE FUEL PAYMENT (AFP)
The government is providing a further £200 Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) to help those households who use alternative fuels such as biomass, LPG or heating oil to meet energy costs this winter.
Park home residents who do not have a relationship with an electricity supplier, will need to apply for the AFP.
They will be able to do so in February, through the same GOV.UK portal as the one that will be used to apply for support under the EBSS-AF.
Further details will be made available shortly.
PLEASE NOTE:
IPHAS TEAM MEMBERS ARE NOW ENJOYING A WELL EARNED BREAK FOR THE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.
ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT ENERGY SUPPORT RELIEF RELEASED BY THE GOVERNMENT OVER THE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS WILL BE POSTED ON THE IPHAS WEBSITE www.iphas.live