Putting aside that it’s now 14th Feb - that this payment was promised by the Government in October and that we’ve had to pay for 2 oil deliveries since then - I’ve seen all the posts, links and replies about HOW the Alternative Fuel Payment will be paid (via OVO) and when the payments will start (6th Feb) … I know that I SHOULD qualify as we have no mains gas to the village - but I don’t know for sure that OVO know that. ( …surely this is something that could have been confirmed sooner ? - but, putting that aside too - we are where we are ...)
The most recent update suggests that OVO now has a list of supply numbers (MPAN) for applicable households - so, how, and more particularly WHEN, will it be possible to confirm that our address is included on the list ? - and - assuming that we are on the list (we certainly should be) how much longer will we need to wait to actually receive the payment ?
£200 Alternative Fuel Payment - Confirmation & Expected Payment Date
Best answer by Jeffus
Updated on 21/06/23 by Abby_OVO
The scheme is closed at the moment. We’ll update this topic when we have information on the scheme for the upcoming year
Think you are eligible for the AFP but didn’t receive it?
You can apply on the GOV website here. If you cannot apply online, call the helpline:
Government Payment for Alternative Fuels (like heating oil)
The Government has now confirmed details about how the ‘Alternative Fuel’ payments (AFP) will be made. This includes households without a direct relationship to an energy supplier.
Information taken from the GOV website where you can find the latest updates on this topic
We have now received the supply numbers (MPANs) of eligible customers from The Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and will be issuing a communication to these customers as soon as possible to inform them that they will receive the Alternative Fuel Payments (AFP) support.
AFP support will be issued as per the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) payments, so by either a payment to the customer's bank account, if paid by direct debit or as credit added to their energy account if they pay on demand.
For PAYG customers credit will be added directly to the customer's smart prepayment meter; or a cash voucher issued if it’s a traditional meter. We intend on adding a note to OVO customer accounts to make it clear that they have been deemed as eligible by BEIS. So if you don’t receive a communication from us, Support should be able to advise if you have been deemed eligible or not.
We’re planning to start making these payments from 13 February, if you’re looking for more information on the AFP or on wider ‘Help For Households’ support schemes, can find this here.
Think you are eligible for the AFP but didn’t receive it?
You can apply on the GOV website here.
If you cannot apply online, call the helpline:
Telephone: 0808 175 3287
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Find out about call charges
Energy bills support in England, Scotland and Wales will be via ‘EBSS Alternative Funding’ and ‘Alternative Fuel Payments’
- People in England, Scotland and Wales without a direct relationship to a domestic energy supplier, will receive a £400 discount on their fuel bills through the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS Alternative Funding).
- The government is also providing a further £200 Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) to help those households in England, Scotland and Wales who use alternative fuels such as biomass or heating oil to heat their homes this winter. Most households eligible for the AFP support in UK, will receive the payment automatically via their electricity supplier in February, with no need to take any action.
- However, households who will need to apply for the AFP, for example because they do not have a relationship with an electricity supplier, 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 Alternative Funding scheme.
“Online applications will open in January for households in England, Scotland and Wales who are eligible for the £400 EBSS Alternative Funding to submit their details, alongside a helpline for those without online access. Payments to households that meet the eligibility criteria – including people who get their energy through a commercial contract or who are off-grid – will be made by local authorities in Great Britain. This is likely to include:
- care home residents
- residents of park homes
- tenants in certain private and social rented homes
- homes supplied via private wires
- residents of caravans and houseboats on registered sites
- farmers living in domestic farmhouses
- off-grid households”
Telephone: 0808 175 3287
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Find out about call charges
Could a member of the OVO customer team please provide an update of how and when payments will be made and who does or does not qualify automatically. Seems a simple request.
Hi
OVO have provided the answers to most of these on a simple web page. The other answers from an OVO staff member are in posts i have linked to (#4, #5)
1. How it will be paid:
https://www.ovoenergy.com/alternative-fuel-payment
2. Who qualifies
https://www.ovoenergy.com/alternative-fuel-payment
This above link is a summary and consistent with the government public announcement to consumers
https://www.gov.uk/get-help-energy-bills/alternative-fuels
If you want to see the full details of who is eligible and how the government selected customers you can look at this document given to suppliers. It has much more detail but wasn't written for consumers.
3. What happens if you don't get it automatically (there will be a page on gov.uk, it isn't there yet, if you don't get the payment and you think you should. The government has not said when the form will be available)
https://www.ovoenergy.com/alternative-fuel-payment
4. When will the payments be made. An OVO staff member has provided this information
5. Can i check if i am on the list of eligible households the government has given to OVO if I haven't received an email? This was provided by an OVO staff member on this forum , so try calling the Support Team.
"We intend on adding a memo to customer accounts to make it clear that they have been deemed as eligible by BEIS, so this will become clear to customer service agents"
Does that answer your questions?
Is there anything else you would like to ask?
+8
+9- Super User
No I have not had anything
In that case, you will probably have to apply for it once the form becomes available (supposed to be soon). The government sent eligibility criteria to the energy suppliers but if anyone got missed, they need to apply themselves apparently
Thanks for the link to the post code data list. Unfortunately my post code does not appear on that list, despite having used oil to heat my house for over 35 years now. So I wont get linked to the census nor will my MPAN be identified to OVO.
There is yet to be a government form to complete to make my claim. Can OVO with all its clout speak to someone in the know, so you can explain exactly what happens now to people like me! It the gov website says the form would be available in “ late February/ Early March. As it is now 5th March I would suggest that both time scales have passed!
+8- Super User
I don’t think there’s much OVO can do to be honest. It’s out of their hands other than simply being given a bunch of cash and told who to give what parts of it to.
+4Hey
Sorry for the issues you’re having,
When the GOV website is updated with a form or helpline for those customers who feel they are eligible but haven’t been assigned payments, I’ll update this thread with that information.
Hope this helps.
+7- Super User
When the GOV website is updated with a form or helpline for those customers who feel they are eligible but haven’t been assigned payments, I’ll update this thread with that information.
https://www.gov.uk/get-help-energy-bills/alternative-fuels#:~:text=If%20you%20do%20not%20get%20this%20payment%20automatically
Thanks everyone. Made my application. Have to now wait up to 6 weeks for a decision. Interestingly the payment(dv) will come from my local council, not through OVO.
So April I imagine, in time for the gin season!
+5Thanks everyone. Made my application. Have to now wait up to 6 weeks for a decision. Interestingly the payment(dv) will come from my local council, not through OVO.
So April I imagine, in time for the gin season!
There has been a similar scheme for those that had to apply manually for the Energy Bill Support Scheme that also involved the council, that launched last week.
Good you got your application in early.
OVO refunded me the £200 I was in credit with my accounts but have sent me an email and txt saying it was the £200 from the government because I don’t have Gas. This is my money that I had paid getting into credit then they tell me I have £200 going into my account as I don’t have gas.
+5OVO refunded me the £200 I was in credit with my accounts but have sent me an email and txt saying it was the £200 from the government because I don’t have Gas. This is my money that I had paid getting into credit then they tell me I have £200 going into my account as I don’t have gas.
Hi
Welcome to the forum.
Good question
The £200 is this from the government as you don't have mains gas.
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