--- title: "Energy Hardship Letter — Free Template | CrisisCompass | CrisisCompass" source_url: "https://crisiscompass.co.uk/energy-hardship-letter-template" retrieved_by: "AnswerRail Edge Engine v1.1.0-parity-v20 (https://answerrail.com)" level_of_detail: "standard" token_payload_reduction: "90%" raw_html_bytes: 131298 compiled_body_bytes: 13094 entities_extracted: 6 currency_recall_static_html: "100%" monitored_currency_tokens: 29 faq_answer_recall_static_html: "100%" monitored_faq_answers: 4 link_recall_static_html: "100%" monitored_content_links: 13 omitted_dynamic_states: ["non_default_tab_panels", "volume_slider_tiers"] conversion_notes: "Origin renders alternate tabs and volume pricing sliders via client-side JavaScript; serving default static AST state." rfc_compliance: "RFC 9110" last_verified_at: "2026-10-25T08:52:38.262Z" cache_age_seconds: 0 origin_cache_control: "public, max-age=0, must-revalidate" --- > **Canonical Source:** [https://crisiscompass.co.uk/energy-hardship-letter-template](https://crisiscompass.co.uk/energy-hardship-letter-template) > > *Free energy hardship letter template. Request help from your gas or electricity provider including hardship funds, payment plans, and the Warm Home Discount.* ### Organization: CrisisCompass | Field | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Organization** | CrisisCompass | | **Official Website** | https://crisiscompass.co.uk | | **Overview** | Independent UK crisis management, financial support guidance, and emergency contingency portal. | ### Entity: CrisisCompass | Property | Detail | | :--- | :--- | | **Type** | WebSite | | **Name** | CrisisCompass | ### Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) **Q: Is CrisisCompass free?** > A: Yes. All core tools — Survival Check, Benefits Finder, Hardship Letter Generator, Budget Calculator, Debt Priority Checker, and AI Chat — are completely free. Optional premium PDF documents start from £2.99. **Q: Is CrisisCompass financial advice?** > A: No. CrisisCompass provides general information and tools. For personalised financial advice, we recommend contacting StepChange (0800 138 1111) or Citizens Advice (0800 144 8848). **Q: Is my data safe?** > A: We store data locally in your browser wherever possible. The Financial Survival Check results are never saved to our servers. See our Privacy Policy for full details. ### Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) **Q: Can my energy company disconnect me?** > A: Disconnection is a last resort and cannot happen during winter for vulnerable customers. If you are engaging with your provider and attempting to pay, disconnection is very unlikely. If you have a pre-payment meter, you may self-disconnect if you cannot top up — contact your provider immediately if this happens. **Q: How do I apply for an energy hardship fund?** > A: Contact your energy provider directly and ask about their hardship fund. You may need to complete an income and expenditure form. Some providers also accept referrals from debt advice charities like StepChange. **Q: What is the Priority Services Register?** > A: A free service that gives extra support to people who are elderly, disabled, have young children, or are in other vulnerable situations. Benefits can include advance notice of power cuts, special assistance during emergencies, and protection from disconnection. **Q: Can I switch energy providers if I have debt?** > A: If you owe less than £500, most providers will allow you to switch and the debt will transfer to your new provider. If you owe more than £500, you may need to clear some of the debt first or agree a payment plan before switching. # Energy Hardship Letter Template If you are struggling to pay your energy bills, writing to your provider can unlock support that is not always advertised. All major energy suppliers have hardship funds and are required by Ofgem to help customers in financial difficulty. 2 min readLast reviewed: March 2026 [Generate Your Letter →](/tools/letters)[Find Benefits You May Be Eligible For →](/benefits)[Prepare for a Phone Call →](/tools/scripts) ⚡ 100% Free Statutory Self-Advocacy Tool • Zero PaywallCited Statute: **Ofgem Supply Licence Condition 27 (Ability to Pay)** ## Instant Statutory Letter & Notice Generator (100% Free) Generate a legally cited UK forbearance, payment plan, or HMRC Time-to-Pay letter in 30 seconds. Zero paywalls, zero sign-up required. 1\. Select Statutory Notice / Letter TypeCouncil Tax Payment Plan & S.13A Hardship Request (Local Government Finance Act 1992 (s.13A))Creditor Reduced Payment & Forbearance Proposal (FCA Consumer Credit Sourcebook (CONC 7.3))6-Month Statutory Interest & Charges Freeze Notice (FCA CONC 7.3.4G & Breathing Space Regs 2020)Rent Arrears Affordable Repayment Proposal (Pre-Action Protocol for Possession Claims)Energy Debt Payment Plan & Hardship Grant Request (Ofgem Supply Licence Condition 27 (Ability to Pay))Water Company Social Tariff & WaterSure Cap Request (Water Industry Act 1991 (s.44 Social Tariffs))HMRC Time-to-Pay (TTP) Arrangement Proposal (PAYE / VAT / Corp Tax / SA) (Finance Act 2009 s.108 (Suspension of Late Payment Penalties)) Your Name / Company Name Creditor / Council / HMRC Team Account / Council Tax / UTR Reference Total Arrears / Balance (£) Affordable Monthly Offer (£) Brief Hardship Reason 2\. Your Ready-to-Send Statutory Letter (Editable)Date: 20 October 2026 To: Energy Supplier Priority Hardship Team Account Reference: \[Account / Council Tax / UTR Reference\] FORMAL NOTICE: OFGEM STANDARD LICENCE CONDITION 27 (ABILITY TO PAY) & HARDSHIP GRANT APPLICATION Dear Customer Support / Priority Hardship Team, I am writing regarding the energy arrears of £1,450 on account \[Account / Council Tax / UTR Reference\]. Our household is experiencing financial difficulty due to a sudden reduction in household income combined with essential living cost increases. Under Ofgem Standard Licence Condition 27 (SLC 27 — Ability to Pay principles), energy suppliers are legally required to take a customer's actual ability to pay into account and offer a sustainable repayment rate before taking any disconnection or warrant action: 1. I propose a realistic repayment contribution of £45 per month towards the arrears in addition to ongoing consumption. 2. Please send me an application form or referral link for your Energy Hardship Trust / Customer Support Fund to help clear the capital arrears. 3. Please ensure our household is registered on the Priority Services Register (PSR) if eligible. Please confirm in writing within 14 days that this £45/month repayment plan has been applied to account \[Account / Council Tax / UTR Reference\]. Yours faithfully, \[Your Full Name / Director Name\] 📋 Copy Letter Text (Free)🖨️ Open Print-Ready A4 PDF (£0 Free)⬇️ Download .TXT ## What Support Energy Companies Must Offer Under Ofgem rules, your energy provider must: - Offer a **payment plan** you can afford - Consider writing off some of your debt through their **hardship fund** - Not disconnect you if you are in a vulnerable situation - Offer you the most appropriate **tariff** for your usage - Add you to the **Priority Services Register** if you qualify ## Types of Support Available ### Hardship Funds Most large energy suppliers operate hardship funds that can **write off part or all of your energy debt**. These are not well advertised — you need to ask specifically. | Provider | Fund Name | | --- | --- | | British Gas | British Gas Energy Trust | | EDF | EDF Customer Support Fund | | E.ON | E.ON Energy Fund | | Scottish Power | Scottish Power Hardship Fund | | OVO Energy | OVO Energy Fund | ### Warm Home Discount A £150 one-off discount on your electricity bill. You may qualify if you receive Pension Credit or have a low income. Applications typically open in autumn. ### Winter Fuel Payment A tax-free payment of £100–£300 for those of State Pension age, paid automatically if you receive a qualifying benefit. ## What to Include in Your Letter - Your **account number** and meter type - The **amount you owe** - Your **current income** and why you are struggling - A request for **hardship fund assessment** - A request to check you are on the **best available tariff** - Whether you are at risk of **self-disconnection** (pre-payment meter users) ## If You Have a Pre-Payment Meter If you have a pre-payment meter and are unable to top up (self-disconnecting), tell your provider immediately. They are required to help and may: - Apply emergency credit - Set up a fuel voucher - Adjust your repayment rate - Refer you to their hardship fund 🏢 UK Limited Company Director Triage • Finance Act 2009 s.108 & ERA 1996 s.166PAYE • VAT • Corporation Tax • Bounce Back Loans ## Running a Limited Company with HMRC Arrears or Business Debt? Calculate your monthly **HMRC Time-to-Pay (TTP)** instalment and check if you qualify for a tax-free **Company Director Statutory Redundancy & Notice Payout** from the government's National Insurance Fund (Employment Rights Act 1996 s.166) if your company ceases trading. HMRC / Company Debt£28,000 £3,000£30k Express Line£150,000+ Years as PAYE Director6 years 0 yrs2 yr Statutory Min20 yrs Weekly Gross PAYE Salary£520/wk £180/wk£700 Statutory Cap Option A: Keep Trading via HMRC Time-to-Pay ~£2,422 / month over 12 months ✓ Under £30,000 threshold: Eligible for HMRC Express Self-Serve / Direct Debit Time-to-Pay arrangement without full security. Option B: Estimated Director Redundancy Claim (Gov RPS) £6,552 Tax-Free Estimate Includes ~£3,900 statutory redundancy + ~£2,652 statutory notice pay from the National Insurance Fund (Form RP1/RP2). Often covers 100% of liquidation costs. 📄 Download B2B HMRC Time-to-Pay Proposal, Cashflow Table & s.172 Board Minute (£29 Instant Pack)🏪 Commercial Rent (CRAR) & Trade Creditor Pack (£19) Need free confidential charity guidance for a sole trader or SME? Call **Business Debtline** free on [0800 197 6026](tel:08001976026) (uk\_b2b\_corporate\_insolvency self-serve governance triage). 🏠 Ofgem ECO4 & £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) • 2026 Funding Open12 Verified UK MCS-Accredited Installers ### Cut Monthly Energy Bills by £650–£1,100/yr: Check £7,500 Heating & ECO4 Grant Eligibility If anyone in your household receives **Universal Credit, Pension Credit, PIP, Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance, or Council Tax Reduction** (or your household income is under £31,000 under ECO4 Flex), you may qualify for 100% funded insulation, solar, or the **£7,500 Government Boiler Upgrade Grant** with zero repayment required. ✓ £7,500 BUS Voucher✓ ECO4 Flex Low-Income Route✓ Direct MCS-Certified Assessment Check My Postcode for £7,500 / ECO4 Grants →Takes 45 seconds • No impact on credit score - **[Check Unclaimed Council Credit Balances & Band Reductions (CouncilCredit.co.uk)](https://councilcredit.co.uk?utm_source=crisiscompass&utm_medium=sovereign_hub)** — SI 1992/613 Reg 14 • Household & CommercialSearch Ledger →UK councils hold over £310m in unrefunded credit balances from closed accounts, overpayments, and backdated Band A–H revaluations. Check if your council owes you a BACS refund. - **[Reclaim Backdated Small Business Rates Relief (RatesReclaim.co.uk)](https://ratesreclaim.co.uk?utm_source=crisiscompass&utm_medium=sovereign_hub)** — LGFA 1988 s.43(4B) • UK Shopfronts, Workshops & OfficesCheck Relief →Sole-property UK businesses with a Rateable Value ≤ £12,000 qualify for 100% Small Business Rate Relief. Audit your property or refer a local business for a £75–£150 partner referral reward. ## Frequently Asked Questions Can my energy company disconnect me? Disconnection is a last resort and cannot happen during winter for vulnerable customers. If you are engaging with your provider and attempting to pay, disconnection is very unlikely. If you have a pre-payment meter, you may self-disconnect if you cannot top up — contact your provider immediately if this happens. How do I apply for an energy hardship fund? Contact your energy provider directly and ask about their hardship fund. You may need to complete an income and expenditure form. Some providers also accept referrals from debt advice charities like StepChange. What is the Priority Services Register? A free service that gives extra support to people who are elderly, disabled, have young children, or are in other vulnerable situations. Benefits can include advance notice of power cuts, special assistance during emergencies, and protection from disconnection. Can I switch energy providers if I have debt? If you owe less than £500, most providers will allow you to switch and the debt will transfer to your new provider. If you owe more than £500, you may need to clear some of the debt first or agree a payment plan before switching. ## Related Guides - **[Hardship Letter for Credit Card Debt](/hardship-letter-credit-card-debt)** — Free hardship letter template for credit card debt. Generate a professional letter requesting reduced payments, interest freeze, or a payment plan from your credit card provider. - **[Warm Home Discount — £150 Off Your Energy Bill](/warm-home-discount-eligibility)** — Check if you qualify for the £150 Warm Home Discount. Eligibility criteria, how to apply, and when the scheme opens. - **[Can't Afford Your Energy Bills](/cant-afford-energy-bills)** — Struggling with gas or electricity bills? Guide to energy hardship funds, payment plans, Warm Home Discount, and fuel vouchers in the UK. ## Sources & Further Reading [FCA Consumer Credit Sourcebook](https://www.fca.org.uk/firms/consumer-credit)[StepChange Debt Charity](https://www.stepchange.org/)[Citizens Advice — Debt](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/) ### Get a free recovery plan by email We'll send you a personalised action plan with next steps, plus practical tips over the following week. Subscribe This page provides general information only and is not financial or legal advice. For personalised guidance, consider contacting [StepChange](https://www.stepchange.org/) (0800 138 1111) or [Citizens Advice](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/) (0800 144 8848). --- ## AI Ingestion & Edge Optimization Provenance (AnswerRail Verified) - **Edge Delivery & Markdown Compilation:** [AnswerRail.com](https://answerrail.com) — Layer-7 AI Crawler Content Negotiation, `/llms.txt` & Byte-0 Schema Compiler - **Dedicated AI Markdown Subdomain:** https://ai.crisiscompass.co.uk/ - **Cryptographic Ingestion Certificate:** https://answerrail.com/verify/crisiscompass.co.uk - **Live Crawler & Referral Telemetry:** https://answerrail.com/stats/crisiscompass.co.uk