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What is the ScottishPower Hardship Fund?

What is the ScottishPower Hardship Fund?

If you’re eligible, the ScottishPower Hardship Fund can help by clearing or reducing outstanding balances on your ScottishPower energy account. If you’re on a lower income and are struggling to pay your energy bills, you may be eligible for the ScottishPower Hardship Fund.

How can the Hardship Fund can help me?

Because some customers have difficulties paying their bills due to low income or other circumstances, ScottishPower has a Hardship Fund to help them get their energy payments under control. The Fund can help by clearing or reducing arrears by crediting a customer’s ScottishPower energy account.

What is the eligibility for the Hardship Fund?

You could qualify for help from the ScottishPower Hardship Fund if you meet the terms and conditions and you’re receiving

  • Income related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Income Support
  • Housing Benefit
  • Universal Credit
  • Child Tax Credits
  • Working Tax Credits
  • Pension Credit Savings Credit (PCSC)

You could also qualify if you have a low household income, or if there are special circumstances which could make you eligible for example you have experienced an income reduction due to illness.

Please note the terms and conditions are subject to change and you will be assessed to identify if eligible for the Hardship Fund when your application is reviewed.

How to apply?

Step 1

  • Contact a recognised debt advice agency such as Step Change Debt Charity *.
  • They’ll give you free, independent advice on money and debt, and advise you how to budget for your energy payments.
  • They can provide further details of the ScottishPower Hardship Fund and advise if you should apply to Sigma Connected Support who administer it on ScottishPower’s behalf.

* You can also call StepChange Debit Charity on 0800 138 1111  lines open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday 8am to 4pm.


Step 2

  • Apply to Sigma Connected Support that administers the ScottishPower Hardship Fund**.
  • They will look at your circumstances and decide whether you are eligible to receive an award from the Fund towards your arrears.
  • They will need evidence of financial hardship – for example, recent letters from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

** As well as applying online you can call 0121 285 2595. Lines open Monday to Friday 8.00am to 5pm.

How are awards paid?

If Sigma Connected Support decide you should receive a partial or full award towards the value of your arrears, your ScottishPower energy account will be credited with the award.

  • Awards will be paid once you commit to a payment arrangement for your ongoing energy use which will take into account the best payment and tariff options for your circumstances.
  • Sigma Connected Support will contact to you to confirm that any credit is applied to your account

Additional Contacts:

National Debtline is a free, confidential, debt advice service for people in England, Wales and Scotland, run by the charity the Money Advice Trust, to contact them either call at 0808 808 4000 or go to their website for more details www.nationaldebtline.org

Last updated: 20 November 2024

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