If you use a prepayment meter and cannot afford to top up your gas or electricity, you may have heard about free fuel vouchers.

These vouchers were commonly offered through local councils, charities and the Household Support Fund during the cost of living crisis. However, the position has now changed.

The Household Support Fund ended on 31 March 2026, so the old council-funded voucher schemes linked to that fund are no longer available in the same way.

That does not mean help has disappeared completely. Some households may still be able to get emergency energy support through their local council, Citizens Advice, their energy supplier, or the new Crisis and Resilience Fund. But free fuel vouchers are now more limited, more localised, and not guaranteed.

This guide explains what has changed, what support may still be available, and what to do if you cannot afford to top up your prepayment meter.

Key Points:

• The Household Support Fund ended on 31 March 2026, so many council-run fuel voucher schemes have closed.
• Free gas and electric vouchers are no longer available as a broad national support scheme.
• Some local councils, Citizens Advice branches, charities or hardship schemes may still issue emergency fuel vouchers in specific cases.
• If you cannot top up a prepayment meter, your first step should usually be to contact your energy supplier.
• You may be able to get temporary credit, emergency credit, additional support credit, a supplier grant, or help through your council.
• The Warm Home Discount, Cold Weather Payment and Winter Fuel Payment are separate schemes from fuel vouchers.

Are free gas and electric vouchers still available?

In some cases, yes, but they are no longer widely available in the way they were under the Household Support Fund.

The Household Support Fund helped councils provide crisis support for essentials such as food, energy and water. In many areas, that included fuel vouchers for people using prepayment meters.

That fund closed on 31 March 2026.

From April 2026, support in England has moved to the Crisis and Resilience Fund. This is intended to help low-income households facing financial shock, but councils set their own local rules. This means the type of help offered can vary significantly depending on where you live.

So the accurate position is:

Free fuel vouchers may still exist locally, but they are not available everywhere and should not be treated as a guaranteed form of support.

If an older article says “free gas and electric vouchers are available”, that now needs qualifying. A better way to say it is:

Fuel vouchers may be available in limited circumstances through local councils, Citizens Advice, charities or local crisis schemes, but the previous Household Support Fund voucher schemes have ended.

Related reading:

• Should I fix my energy bills?
• How much should my energy go up?
• UK Energy Security Strategy Explained
• Where does the UK get its gas from?
• The average carbon footprint per household in the UK

What was the Household Support Fund?

The Household Support Fund was a government-funded scheme that gave local councils money to help vulnerable households with essentials.

Depending on the council, support could include:

• food vouchers
• supermarket vouchers
• energy vouchers
• help with water bills
• one-off crisis payments
• support for families with children
• help for pensioners or disabled people

The fund ran in several rounds between 2021 and 2026.

It has now closed.

That matters because many “free fuel voucher” articles online still refer to Household Support Fund help as though it is currently available. In many cases, that information is now out of date.

What replaced the Household Support Fund?

In England, the Household Support Fund has been replaced by the Crisis and Resilience Fund.

The new fund is designed to support low-income households experiencing financial hardship or a sudden financial shock. It is also intended to help councils provide longer-term support, not just emergency one-off payments.

However, this does not mean every council will automatically offer fuel vouchers.

Depending on your council, help could include:

• emergency payments
• help with food
• help with energy bills
• support with rent or housing costs
• referrals to debt advice
• budgeting support
• wider crisis support

You will need to check your own council’s scheme to see what is available locally.

What should you do if you cannot top up your prepayment meter?

If you cannot afford to top up your gas or electricity meter, do not wait until your supply goes off.

Your first step should be to contact your energy supplier.

Suppliers can usually offer some form of short-term support, especially if you are vulnerable, have children, are disabled, have a long-term health condition, are pregnant, are of pension age, or are struggling with living costs.

You may be able to get:

• emergency credit
• friendly credit
• additional support credit
• a repayment plan
• a reduction in the amount taken for debt when you top up
• access to a hardship fund or energy debt grant
• Priority Services Register support

Temporary credit normally has to be repaid, so it is not the same as a free fuel voucher. But it can keep your supply on while you arrange longer-term help.

Can Citizens Advice still help with fuel vouchers?

Possibly.

Citizens Advice says that if you cannot afford to top up your prepayment meter, you might be able to get a fuel voucher. These are usually issued as a code by letter, text message or email.

You can normally use the voucher to add credit to a gas card, electricity key, or smart prepayment meter.

However, Citizens Advice does not guarantee that vouchers are available in every area. In practice, availability depends on local funding, local referral arrangements and your circumstances.

If you are unsure where to start, Citizens Advice is still one of the best routes because they can check what is available locally and advise you on supplier support, benefits, debt and emergency help.

ElWho might qualify for emergency energy support?

Rules vary by area, but support is usually aimed at people who are genuinely struggling to afford essentials.

You may be more likely to qualify if you:

• use a prepayment meter
• cannot afford to top up
• have little or no savings
• receive means-tested benefits
• have children in the household
• are pregnant
• are disabled or have a long-term health condition
• are of pension age
• have recently lost income
• are dealing with a crisis such as illness, bereavement, domestic abuse or job loss
• are already in energy debt

You do not always need to be on benefits, but benefits are a common route into eligibility.

Do you have to use a prepayment meter?

For fuel vouchers specifically, usually yes.

Fuel vouchers are normally designed for people who need to top up a prepayment meter. They are not usually given to people paying by Direct Debit or standard credit.

If you pay by Direct Debit and are struggling, you should still contact your supplier. You may be able to get:

• a payment plan
• a temporary reduction in payments
• a review of estimated bills
• a grant to clear energy debt
• support through a supplier hardship fund
• help through your local council

How much are fuel vouchers worth?

Where fuel vouchers are still available, the value varies.

Older Household Support Fund vouchers were often worth around £30 to £50, although some councils offered different amounts depending on household size, season and available funding.

Because the Household Support Fund has ended, you should not assume these figures still apply.

If your council, Citizens Advice branch or local charity can issue a voucher, they will confirm the value, expiry date and how it can be used.

How do you use a fuel voucher?

Fuel vouchers are not cash.

They are usually issued as a code by text, email or letter. You may be able to redeem the code at a PayPoint, Payzone or Post Office location, or online if you have a smart prepayment meter.

You may need:

• the voucher code
• the instructions sent with the voucher
• proof of identity
• proof of address
• your gas card, electricity key or account details

Fuel vouchers usually expire quickly. Citizens Advice says some vouchers may need to be used within 15 days, so check the expiry date as soon as you receive it.

What if your voucher has expired?

If a voucher expires, you may not be able to use it.

Contact the organisation that issued it as soon as possible. They may be able to reissue it, but this is not guaranteed.

Do not wait until the deadline has passed. If you receive a voucher, use it promptly.

What if you are in energy debt?

If you owe money to your energy supplier, contact them and explain what you can afford.

Your supplier must take your ability to pay into account when setting repayments. If you are on a prepayment meter and part of each top-up is being taken to repay debt, ask your supplier to reduce the recovery rate if it is leaving you without enough energy.

Some suppliers also have hardship funds or can refer you to independent trust funds.

Examples include:

• British Gas Energy Trust
• EDF Energy Customer Support Fund
• E.ON Next Energy Fund
• Octopus Energy Assist Fund
• ScottishPower Hardship Fund
• OVO Customer Support Package

Availability and eligibility vary, so check directly with your supplier.

Warm Home Discount

The Warm Home Discount is separate from fuel vouchers.

For winter 2025 to 2026, eligible households could get £150 off their electricity bill or £150 added to their prepayment meter.

In England and Wales, you usually qualify if you either:

• get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, or
• are on a low income and meet the scheme rules

In Scotland, some low-income households may need to apply through their supplier.

The Warm Home Discount is not available in Northern Ireland.

The 2025 to 2026 eligibility checker has now closed, so households should check the main Warm Home Discount guidance for the next scheme year when it opens.

Cold Weather Payment

Cold Weather Payments are also separate from fuel vouchers.

For winter 2025 to 2026, eligible households could get £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between 1 November 2025 and 31 March 2026.

The payment is triggered when the average temperature in your area is recorded or forecast to be 0°C or below for seven consecutive days.

You do not need to apply. If you qualify, payments are made automatically.

Cold Weather Payments apply in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland has a separate Winter Heating Payment system.

Winter Fuel Payment

Winter Fuel Payment is another separate scheme.

It is aimed at older households and can help with heating costs during winter. Eligibility depends on age, circumstances and the scheme rules for that winter.

If you are State Pension age or approaching it, check the latest Winter Fuel Payment guidance on GOV.UK.

Current energy price cap context

Energy bills remain high by historic standards.

From 1 April to 30 June 2026, the Ofgem energy price cap for a typical dual-fuel household paying by Direct Debit was £1,641 per year.

From 1 July to 30 September 2026, it rises to £1,862 per year for a typical dual-fuel Direct Debit household.

The cap is not a limit on your total bill. It limits the unit rates and standing charges suppliers can charge on standard variable tariffs. Your actual bill depends on how much energy you use, where you live, how you pay and what type of meter you have.

For July to September 2026, the average Direct Debit rates are:

• electricity: 26.11p per kWh, with a 57.19p daily standing charge
• gas: 7.33p per kWh, with a 29.04p daily standing charge

Prepayment meter rates are usually set separately, so check your supplier or Ofgem’s regional tables for the exact rates in your area.

What to do next

If you cannot afford gas or electricity, take these steps:

1. Contact your supplier immediately
   Ask about emergency credit, friendly credit, additional support credit, debt repayment reductions and hardship funds.
2. Check your local council’s crisis support scheme
   The old Household Support Fund has ended, but your council may offer help through the Crisis and Resilience Fund or another local welfare scheme.
3. Speak to Citizens Advice
   They can check whether fuel vouchers, grants or supplier support are available in your area.
4. Ask about the Priority Services Register
   This can give extra support if you are vulnerable, disabled, have a long-term health condition, are pregnant, have young children, or are of pension age.
5. Check benefit-linked schemes
   Look into the Warm Home Discount, Cold Weather Payment, Winter Fuel Payment and any local support you may qualify for.
6. Do not ignore energy debt
   Your supplier must consider what you can afford. If your repayment rate is too high, ask for it to be reduced.

FAQs

Are free gas and electric vouchers still available in 2026?

Sometimes, but not everywhere.

The Household Support Fund ended on 31 March 2026, so many council voucher schemes have closed. Some local councils, Citizens Advice branches or charities may still be able to issue emergency fuel vouchers, but this depends on local funding and your circumstances.

Is the Household Support Fund still available?

No. The Household Support Fund ended on 31 March 2026.

In England, it has been replaced by the Crisis and Resilience Fund, but the new fund does not automatically mean fuel vouchers are available in every area.

Can I get a fuel voucher if I pay by Direct Debit?

Usually not.

Fuel vouchers are normally for people using prepayment meters because they need to top up before they can use energy. If you pay by Direct Debit, you may still be able to get supplier support, a payment plan, a hardship grant or local council help.

Can I get a fuel voucher and the Warm Home Discount?

Yes, if you qualify for both.

They are separate forms of support. A fuel voucher is usually short-term emergency help for topping up a prepayment meter. The Warm Home Discount is a £150 discount or credit applied to eligible electricity accounts or prepayment meters.

Do I need to repay a fuel voucher?

Usually no.

A genuine fuel voucher is normally a grant, not a loan. But emergency credit, friendly credit or additional support credit from your supplier normally has to be repaid.

What if I have run out of credit completely?

Contact your supplier immediately. Ask for emergency credit or additional support credit and explain if anyone in the household is vulnerable.

If your supply has gone off and you cannot top up, also contact Citizens Advice or your local council’s emergency support service.

Can my supplier help if I keep running out of credit?

Yes.

Your supplier may be able to reduce debt deductions from your top-ups, offer a repayment plan, check whether your meter is working properly, or move you to a more suitable payment method if prepayment is not safe or practical for you.

Are prepayment meters more expensive?

Not always.

Prepayment meter customers have separate price cap rates, and the exact comparison depends on the price cap period, region and tariff. However, prepayment customers face a bigger practical risk: if they cannot top up, they can self-disconnect.

That is why emergency support often focuses on prepayment meter households.

Where should I apply?

Start with:

• your energy supplier
• your local council
• Citizens Advice
• local charities or food banks
• your supplier’s hardship fund

Avoid unofficial websites that ask for bank details in exchange for “energy grants” or “heating allowance” payments. Scammers often copy the language of real government schemes.

In summary

Free gas and electric vouchers are no longer available in the same way they were under the Household Support Fund.

The Household Support Fund ended on 31 March 2026, and many local voucher schemes linked to it have closed. However, some households may still be able to get emergency fuel vouchers or crisis support through their local council, Citizens Advice, charities or supplier hardship schemes.

If you cannot afford to top up your prepayment meter, contact your supplier first, then check your council’s crisis support and speak to Citizens Advice. The help available depends on where you live, your circumstances and the funding available locally.

Related Resources:

• Average carbon footprint per household UK
• Should I fix my energy bills?
• How much should my energy go up?
• UK Energy Security Strategy Explained
• Where does the UK get its gas from?