Government grants & money-saving schemes
There's real money on the table in government schemes — but the pages explaining them are usually written by someone trying to sell you something. Here's the plain-English version, traced to official sources, with the honest caveats left in.
Solar & battery
What solar really costs in 2026, what you actually get back, and the roofs it doesn't suit — no 'free electricity' hype.
There's no 'free solar' grant — but there is 0% VAT and the Smart Export Guarantee. The honest picture.
Standard solar shuts off in a blackout. What battery backup actually does — and whether it's worth it.
The two trustworthy, no-hard-sell routes — and what to check before you ask for a price.
Energy bills & support
Billions in support go unclaimed. Every scheme — Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payment, Cold Weather Payments, Pension Credit — who it's for, and where to check.
A third of eligible people miss it — and it unlocks the Warm Home Discount, Cold Weather Payments and more.
£100–£300 for heating, and how the £35,000 income clawback works. Over £35,000? Phone opt-outs closed at 6pm on 18 September 2026, but you can still opt out online by 11:59pm on 20 September 2026 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland).
£150 off your electricity bill, with far wider eligibility since 2025.
£25 when it turns freezing — and Scotland's guaranteed £62 alternative.
What replaced the Household Support Fund in April 2026 — help with food and energy via your council.
Kept current: grant amounts, thresholds and scheme rules change often — every guide here is dated and traced to official sources. Join the list and we'll flag when a scheme opens, closes or changes so you claim what you're owed in time.