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  • Breadcrumb

    1. Home
    2. Benefits and money
    3. Managing debt
    4. Debts and arrears

    Overdue utility bills

    If you're having trouble paying utility bills, such as gas and electricity, it's important to address the problem. Utility companies can cut off your supply. Even a phone bill is a priority if you need the phone to earn your living.

    What to do if you can't pay a utility bill

    List your creditors

    Make a list of everyone you owe money to. These are your ‘creditors’.

    Decide which debts to pay off first

    Put your list in order of importance so you know which creditors to pay first. Some bills are more important to pay than others because they're 'priority debts'. Utility bills are priority debts - this means the consequences of not paying may be serious.

    Sort out your budget

    Work out your personal weekly or monthly budget. Note down details of your income and your outgoings. See what you can afford to pay your creditors and decide how much you'll pay to each.

    • Budgeting  
    • Budget Planner (Money Advice Service website)

    Get in touch with your utility suppliers

    Contact each utility company whose bill you haven't paid. Explain your situation and offer to pay an amount you can afford.

    All fuel suppliers (electricity and gas) follow a code of practice that means they won't cut off your supply if you agree a payment plan with them and then keep to it.

    You'll need to check each code of practice, but they should take into account your ability to pay - complain to the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (NIAUR) if they don't (see 'What to do if you have problems dealing with your fuel supplier' below). A plan could include:

    • paying by weekly or monthly instalments
    • using a pre-payment meter

    With a pre-payment meter, you use a smart card, key or token (or, sometimes, coins) to pay for your gas or electricity as you use it. You recharge your card or key at PayPoint outlets like newsagents and Post Offices.

    If you have a meter installed, remember you'll only get a supply when it's topped up.

    Third Party Payment scheme

    If you are getting Incapacity Benefit or State Retirement Pension and owe money to the following organisations, you may be able to join the Third Party Payment scheme;

    • Northern Ireland Housing Executive
    • Northern Ireland Electricity
    • Land & Property Services (formerly the Rate Collection Agency)
    • Housing Associations

    This scheme will take money from your weekly benefit covering your current rent or use of electricity and also pay a sum towards your arrears.

    You can also have money taken out of your Income Support/Pension Credit, Job Seekers Allowance (income-based) and Employment and Support Allowance.

    If you wish to join the Third Party Payment scheme you should contact the organisation you owe the money to and ask for them to make an application to the Social Security Agency.

    • Social Security / Jobs and Benefits offices

    Other benefits

    If you're struggling to pay your utility bills but you're not claiming benefits, it's worth checking to see if you qualify for any. If you're on a low income or you've got extra costs because of your personal situation, there may well be some benefits you could claim.

    • How to find out if you qualify for benefits  

    If you've problems dealing with your fuel supplier

    If you're having trouble sorting out difficulties with your fuel supplier you can contact the Utility Regulator or the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland.

    Help and advice

    If you're having debt problems, always get expert help and advice.

    • Advice NI
    • Step Change Debt Charity
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    Debts and arrears

    • Dealing with loan sharks
    • Debt when someone dies
    • Enforcement of Judgments Office
    • Housing Executive tenant rent arrears
    • Mortgage arrears or payment difficulties
    • Overdue utility bills
    • Rent arrears
    • Tax and other debts owed to HM Revenue and Customs
    • What happens if you can't pay your rates
    • What happens if you don't pay your rates

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    What to do next

    Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

    If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

    Carer's Allowance

    Call 0800 587 0912
    Email 
    dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

    Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

    Call 0800 587 2750 
    Email 
    customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

    Disability Living Allowance

    Call 0800 587 0912 
    Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

    Employment and Support Allowance

    Call 0800 587 1377

    Jobseeker’s Allowance

    Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

    Personal Independence Payment

    Call 0800 587 0932

    If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

    Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

    For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

    For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

    For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

    If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

    • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
    • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
    • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

    If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

    For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

    For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

    Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

    For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

    For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

    For queries about your GRONI account, email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk.

    For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

    For queries about:

    • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
      contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
       
    • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
      contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

    If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

    For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

     

    For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

    For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

    For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

    If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

    If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

    For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

    For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

    For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

    If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly.  We don't have access to information about you.

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