Energy Bills, Grants and Support:
When our energy advisers deliver drop-in advice sessions in the community, far and away our most frequent question is “What support can I get for my home?” We have compiled this list of grants, schemes, and other support that householders in Birmingham may be eligible for. With already sky-high energy prices still rising, it is important to know what is available to improve your home’s energy efficiency and bring down your bills as much as possible.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is a £7500 grant for replacing a fossil fuel heating system (usually a gas boiler) with a low carbon alternative. The best low-carbon heating system in Birmingham will almost always be an air source heat pump. This scheme is designed to reduce the upfront cost of installing air source (or ground source) heat pumps, helping you cut your carbon emissions and reducing future bills. While electricity is currently more expensive than gas per kWh, air source heat pumps are generally 3-4 times more efficient than even the best and newest gas boilers, therefore using much less energy overall.
Applications for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme are made through an approved installer, who applies for the grant on your behalf and discounts it from your quote. To check the latest rules and read more about the application process, visit their website.
ECO4
ECO4 supports certain households with insulation and heating upgrades. It mainly supports people who receive specific benefits, with properties usually needing an EPC rating of E, F, G (and in some cases D). Typical work funded through ECO4 includes insulation and heating upgrades for the purpose of making your home warmer and cheaper to heat.
To access ECO4, you usually need to contact either your local council or your energy supplier directly and ask about ECO4 support. Please beware: there has been a large amount of fraud and poor insulation installations associated with this scheme, so please be cautious of anyone contacting you, do not accept external or internal wall insulation, and do not give personal details to callers or door-to-door salespeople unless you are completely sure they are legitimate. Most of the poor insulation jobs that have received recent press coverage, have been on internal wall insulation and external wall insulation, so we cannot recommend these measures on this scheme.
More information is available online here.
Great British Insulation Scheme
The Great British Insulation Scheme was set up to offer support with one insulation measure such as loft insulation or cavity wall insulation. Sadly, the official deadline for applications has passed and there has been no further funding for this scheme. However, if you were already approved for this scheme and the works have not yet been done, they can still happen under this scheme until March 2026.
Warm Homes Local Grant
In Birmingham, the Warm Homes Local Grant could offer free energy saving upgrades for your home. This grant is for households on lower incomes, those getting certain benefits, or those living in specific postcodes. To check eligibility, apply using the link below and the council then arranges a home survey to see what improvements will make the biggest difference, such as wall, loft or underfloor insulation, a heat pump, smart heating controls, or solar panels.
The council organises and pays for the agreed work, although landlords may or may not be expected to contribute. To qualify, your home must be in Birmingham, be privately owned, have an EPC rating of D, E, F or G, and your household income must be under £36,000 a year. Once you apply, Birmingham City Council usually gets in touch within 2–3 weeks to arrange the next steps.
Read more about this grant and start an application here.
Household Support Fund
The Household Support Fund is support from the Department for Work and Pensions to help residents in financial hardship. In Birmingham, the fund can help with energy costs, food, water and other essential goods. A new round for applications opened on 10 November, but the demand is very high, so it is important to apply as soon as possible.
After you submit your application, Birmingham City Council checks your eligibility and you will receive an approval email. After this, the council should contact you in about 4 weeks to ask further questions and assess your situation. Because there can be long waiting lists, the earlier you apply, the better your chances of getting the support when you need it.
You can find more information on the Birmingham City Council website.
Warm Home Discount
The Warm Home Discount is a oneoff £150 discount taken directly off your electricity bill. This is a credit that your electricity supplier applies automatically. You qualify if you either receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, or are on a low income.
Cold Weather Payment
The Cold Weather Payment offers additional support when temperatures drop below freezing for an extended time. If you are eligible, you will get this support automatically. You do not need to apply. You may, however, need to inform the Jobcentre if a child under 5 comes to live with you.
You will receive a payment of £25 for each 7day period in which the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0 degrees or below. These payments apply between 1 November 2025 and 31 March 2026, helping to cover the extra heating costs during the coldest weather when a lack of house heat becomes even more of a problem.
Winter Fuel Payment
If you were both before 22 September 1959, you could get between £100-£300 to help you pay your heating bills during the winter of 2025-2026. Most eligible households will receive this payment automatically into their bank account. However, if your income is over £35,000, HMRC will take your Winter Fuel Payment back. If you are eligible, you will have received a letter in October or November confirming how much you will receive, and most payments are made in November or December 2025. Monitor your post and bank statements to make sure your payment arrives as expected.
If you have any further questions or would like to speak about other ways you could save on your heating and feel warmer in your home, chat to one of ecobirmingham’s energy advisers – Get in touch. We hope to speak with you soon.